Thibaut Courtois delivered another world-class performance on Wednesday night, helping Real Madrid secure a convincing 3-0 victory over Athletic Club at San Mamés. The Belgian goalkeeper produced a crucial save during one of Athletic’s best chances of the match, further proving why he remains one of the most decisive players in world football.
The win allowed Real Madrid to cut the gap behind Barcelona to just one point, ending a run of three La Liga away matches without a victory. Xabi Alonso described the performance as the team’s “most complete of the season”, although the injuries to Eduardo Camavinga and Trent Alexander-Arnold were the only negatives of the night.
Courtois: “We needed to stop talking and start acting”
Speaking after the match, Courtois explained what changed for the squad and why their intensity returned at the right moment.
“In the first half in Girona, we didn’t give enough, and today, if you don’t play at 100%, you can easily be beaten. We said we needed to stop talking and start acting,” he told Diario AS.
He highlighted the tactical differences between opponents:
“Athletic plays with a high defensive line, which creates more space. It’s more difficult for us against Girona or Elche when they defend deep.”
Courtois added that the team must maintain this level:
“It was a good overall performance. We have to keep working and believing. Everyone wants to contribute to the team’s success.”
Courtois addresses rumors about tension with Xabi Alonso
Recent reports suggested that some key Real Madrid players were unconvinced by Xabi Alonso’s methods. Courtois, however, dismissed the idea of a conflict, saying that misunderstandings can happen in any team.
“We’re always close to him. At Real Madrid, any small gesture gets magnified by ten. We’re people — sometimes tensions are high, but there was never a problem between the team and the manager,” he told El Chiringuito.
He continued:
“In relationships there are always better or worse moments, but I don’t think any player has felt uncomfortable with him. On the outside, there’s always noise, but internally, we don’t notice it. People talk a lot externally, when maybe inside it’s not like that.”
As the pressure surrounding the club continues, Real Madrid will now focus on their upcoming home matches against Celta Vigo and Manchester City after completing a demanding run of six consecutive away fixtures.
MadridistasZone view:
As a Madridista, it’s great to see Courtois stepping up again and taking responsibility both on and off the pitch. His leadership is crucial, especially during moments when the media tries to create unnecessary noise around the team. If Madrid keeps this intensity, things look very promising for the upcoming matches.