Thibaut Courtois che gave an interview to TNT Brazil before playing against Liverpool, in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.
Locker room atmosphere
“We are happy, on a good streak for a long time. There were only two draws against Atleti and Real, two difficult rivals. We are very good. We had injuries and that, but the team is very close and that is the key to winning games. Let each person count to win. We are eager to focus this week ”.
11 games without losing
“It is always better to play a Champions League match when you come from a victory, but the Champions are other matches. We are on a good streak, we found the goal, we defended well and that gives us confidence ”.
Liverpool, one of the best attacks in Europe
“Yes, it was a team that scored a lot of goals and we know they have quality with Salah, Mané, Firmino, also Jota. They have that quality at the top but we have a lot of quality defending and attacking. We hope that with Vini, Rodrygo and Benzema we can hurt them ”.
A game like this requires special concentration
“As a goalkeeper you always have to concentrate. You always have to know the quality of each player and with the goalkeepers we watch videos and analyze. We know that Salah would like to define or Firmino in a specific way… Today any team can score you a goal so you have to be focused ”.
Madrid can win the Champions
“If you play a tournament you always have the ambition to win it, that's been the case. It has not been an easy year, but we showed that we have a great quality. At Inter, for example, leaders in Italy, we beat them well. With Atalanta… In the second round we showed that we played very well and now let's see how we do it. If we win against Liverpool we hit the table and say 'here we are'. Madrid will always be the favorites and not because they have been eliminated in the last two years will it change ”.
What does it mean not to have Ramos?
“Unfortunately he was recently injured in the knee, but those who have played have done very well. There are always players ready to play. Ramos is important to us, now he can't be. A month ago we had injuries and we have to be a group together ”.
Are you in your best year?
“Can be. It is always difficult to analyze because there are many factors, but I feel very good, that I can help the team with key stops and that is always appreciated. When you make an important stop to win you feel good and it is the result of work since I arrived. In the last year and a half it has been going very well and I hope it continues like this ”.
What was the most difficult part of your start at Madrid?
“It depends on the results and on those moments. At the beginning he played well, maybe he didn't make any extraordinary stops, but if you make good stops and lose, for example, he doesn't stand out. Now I make a stop and we win and it changes. I didn't change anything, I keep doing the same job. Work hard and go out alone, I have confidence in myself, I know the quality that I have and it will not go away from one day to the next ”.
It is more difficult to be a goalkeeper in Madrid
“Yes, there is greater pressure, it comes with Madrid. There is more pressure from the press, from the people and if you want to play for Madrid you have to know how to take it. I am delighted in goal ”.
Who was the best goalkeeper you saw play?
“Since I was a child I was a big fan of Casillas but later, growing up, Iker is shorter than me and has a different style and I later looked at Van der Sar, who was my idol too. Then I admired Cech, not forgetting Buffon, who is a myth. As a reference it was more Van der Sar, for the position. Growing up, you see videos of Buffon, Casillas, Cech… This is how you learn ”.
Criticism of Vinicius for his definition
“Yes, we have a lot of games and he finishes well. In matches he is different and sometimes he lacks there, he does a good deed and it just does not end, but he is still young. That cannot be in your head, you have to be free and not be obsessed with marking, marking, marking because that will come. In training he works on that and I see him shooting better. He makes great goals in training. In the matches it will come out. If you manage to have a streak of two, three goals in a row, it will give you confidence. Vini is a great player and he has shown it, he gives us a lot in attack with his dribbles and speed and that is important. The last day he gave Benzema an assist and I have seen him evolve a lot in that. A year or two ago, a center like that with the left foot was more complicated and the other day he did it perfect. He has to have confidence in himself and I'm sure he's going to score a lot of goals at Madrid ”.
. Will we see Chelsea Hazard in Madrid?
“We will see for sure. Unfortunately before the injury against PSG he played very well and it seemed that he was at his best level but he had the injury. After the COVID and all that, it has been difficult. There is that kind of bad luck. He's very good, I see him very well, he's training. I see him very fine, like never before, he is working in the gym and he will surely come out. You have to be patient, he will show it in these weeks and next year he will surely be at full throttle. In Madrid it is not easy, the fans expect a lot from him but I am sure that we will see the best Eden ”.
Haaland or Mbappé
“They are two very good players, everyone is talking about them. It is not me who signs, it is the coach and the club who can decide if they can sign someone. I am happy with the team, we have the quality to win the League and the Champions League and hopefully we can do it ”.