Thibaut Courtois makes a slow start to life in Madrid

BeSoccer 5 years ago 601
Courtois joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in the summer transfer window. EFE

Three goals conceded in half an hour at Sevilla's Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium was not the start that Courtois and his team-mates would have wanted last night, however the keeper has made a slow start to life at the Bernabeu.

Despite picking up 'The Best Goalkeeper' award at UEFA's gala in London this week, the best goalkeeper in the world could do little to sop Sevilla falling to an embarrassing defeat. 

Despite this, it was no excuse for Courtois. "We can’t look to the London Gala as being an excuse. I was in bed by 4.30am, I slept well and then I trained well", he told the press after the game. 

Real Madrid had not gone in at half time 3-0 down since the 2009-10 season when they were embarrassed by third tier Alcorcon in the Spanish Cup.

The Belgium international was not at fault for the goals but the scoreline alone can’t help but cast some shadow on a goalkeeper who has replaced the hugely popular Keylor Navas but still not really filled that Real Madrid goal in a way he would have liked.

Courtois was not able to keep a clean sheet on his debut too, as Real Madrid been Leganes 4-1 at home. 

The former Chelsea man is known for being self critical, however he would have hoped for a better start. 

"They started with more intensity and we could not match it," Courtois said after the game. ‘

"The goals came from our own errors although the second one is bad luck because I save it but it then falls at the feet of Andre Silva."

Asked if he thought Madrid’s problem was a mental one. Courtois added: "Concentration was maximum but maybe we need to start better. We will have to study what we did wrong in the first half."

Mentioned in the news story

Real Madrid
T. Courtois