Thibaut Courtois spoke this Thursday at News #Come on of the Classic on Sunday against Barcelona. The Belgian goalkeeper of Real Madrid affirms that the team comes to the game with good feelings, acknowledges that it motivates him to face the best and predicts an intense match while confident in the victory of his team.
Has the victory against Shakhtar changed the perception when it comes to facing the Clásico?
“It was important to win that game against Shakhtar after the loss against the Sheriff. We arrived with good feelings from the beginning of the season. We had the draw against Villarreal in a game that we played well, but either team could take that. game and then came the Sheriff’s game that we had to win. But football sometimes is like that, the goal does not arrive and they score us two goals. Against Espanyol it was perhaps our smallest game of the season, but I think return of the national team break we trained very well, we won and arrived with a good feeling to Sunday’s game. “
How important is your mental strength when preparing a match like El Clásico?
“In football there may always be teams that are worse off in the standings, but when you play against a big one, it doesn’t matter whether you are last or first. A game as important as a Clásico, both teams are going to be very well. You have to be very focused. , with intensity from the first minute and knowing what we are playing for “.
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What is special about this type of duel against Barça?
“The Classics are one of the most watched games in the world. You feel when you go to play it, even before you are here. They are games that all the players watch. And we are happy that the fans are back in the stands. That gives a plus to a Clásico. It’s going to be a very intense game, with rivalry, piques in the field … “.
Do you have any saved chop?
“No, not me. In the end it is going there to the death, to defend yours. Sometimes when a heat arises in the game, there may be a pique, but always with the utmost respect, because we are professionals. But that is cool in these parties, let there be a little fire. “
Is it a relief that it is the first Clásico without Messi after many years?
“No, because we like to face him. It’s always cool when you can face the best. I remember a game the first year I arrived that he didn’t play and we lost 5-1. I don’t want to remember that, but that’s the way it is. Barça they have quality, new young stars: Ansu Fati, Pedri … It’s going to be a great game because they have a lot of quality. “
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Have you studied Ansu Fati? Do you know, for example, where you are going to try to score a goal?
“We always do it with the goalkeeping coach: watching videos, watching offensive actions, penalties, fouls … Football is not always predictable, there is always something unpredictable when it comes to shooting on goal.”
And what have you seen so special?
“You can see that he is a player who has a lot of quality when it comes to hitting. In the goal he scores against Valencia the other day you can see the quality. There is not much more to add to that. Last year he also scored 1- 1 in the game that we won 1-3. Jordi Alba’s pass he put a good foot to the long post so that the goalkeeper could not intervene. You can tell that he has that quality. We are going to try to stop him, but not only him, everybody”.
Statistical comparison of Courtois and Ter Stegen.
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How does the technician come to the conclusion that the best system is 4-3-3? Have you discussed it with him?
“I’m not going to tell him how we have to play. Sometimes he can ask Casemiro, me or the defense, what he likes best and what he thinks is better or worse. In some games we have played 4-4- 2 we did not do what he had in mind. It is good to have that flexibility, but if we do better at 4-3-3 as the coach says, we train tactics and try to arrive prepared “.
A result?
“I would put the 2 to win away from home, but I do not usually say a resolved. Karma then returns it to you and I prefer not to say it. I always go to a game with a positive mind and thinking that we are going to win. And with that mentality I’m going, aggressive to win that game and that’s what we try “.