"A lot of people thought my season was over, but I knew it wasn't"

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois revealed the bad moments he went through when he tore his cruciate ligament in his knee in the last preseason, but assured that, although "many thought" that his season "was over", he was convinced that he would recover in time to finish playing it.

Days away from being the starting goalkeeper in the Champions League final after recovering from two knee injuries and showing his good level in his return to action in La Liga, the Belgian reviewed his experiences.

"You have to be positive, above all. In August I cried because the worst thing that can happen to you in football is the ACL injury. When I got home I said I was going to work hard and come back strong. That was my idea from the beginning: be positive, fight and never give up, look for your limits. Many thought my season was over, but I knew it wasn't," he said.

Courtois and Chus Mateo, the basketball coach, were the stars of the first day of 'Semana Blanca' for the students of the Real Madrid Universidad Europea University School.

"Fighting adversity is not easy, you have to be confident and believe in yourself. It is important to be a professional when it comes to work. Many will remember you for your football career, but many others will remember you for the way you are in your day-to-day life," said Emilio Butragueno, director of institutional relations at Real Madrid, who moderated the event.

Courtois commented on Madrid's importance from the inside after years of sporting success. "From the outside you always see the greatness, but until you are inside you don't realise the impact that Madrid have on world football. Every year they fight to win the Champions League, the club is the best in the world and you really see everything when you are inside. When you move around the world you realise the impact.

 

May 20, 2024