Courtois and Vazquez react after Real Madrid’s penalty shootout win vs Atletico – ‘It was a lottery’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois reflected on the crucial moment in the penalty shootout against Atletico Madrid, acknowledging that luck played a role in the outcome.

He believed Julian Alvarez had made contact with the ball twice and immediately informed the referee. Despite the setback, he recognised that these situations can be unpredictable.

“In the end it was a lottery. I felt that Julian had touched the ball twice and I told the referee. It’s a bit of bad luck. Like Correa, who touched it, but he went hard and I didn’t clear it,” he said.

While admitting that Real Madrid did not deliver their best performance, he emphasised that securing qualification was the most important aspect.

“We didn’t play our best game, but we went through, that’s the important thing.”

Courtois trusts the officials

Thibaut Courtois was decisive for Real Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Speaking later in the mixed zone, Courtois addressed the debate surrounding refereeing decisions. He expressed frustration over constant discussions about officiating and insisted that UEFA had assessed the situation correctly.

“UEFA sees it clearly. I’m fed up with always playing the victim and always crying about things like this.”

He dismissed the notion that referees favour certain teams, stating that officials in Spain and Europe make decisions based on what they see.

“The referee doesn’t benefit any team, neither in Spain nor in Europe. I think they saw it clearly and that’s why they whistled it like that.

“They are human beings and can make mistakes, but with the technology of the VAR room they saw it clearly,” he said.

Lucas Vazquez speaks

Meanwhile, Lucas Vazquez shared his thoughts on the team’s performance, stating that Real Madrid “were generally superior.”

He highlighted the celebrations in the dressing room, underlining the squad’s determination and competitive spirit.

Lucas Vazquez missed his penalty against Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

For him, this victory was about more than just advancing to the quarter-finals—it was a statement about the team’s resilience.

“It was a very important match, not just for reaching the quarterfinals.

“The team is being criticized, undervalued at times, we’re in a good position in La Liga, in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, in the Champions League quarterfinals where we wanted to be,” he added.

On missing the penalty

Addressing his missed penalty in the shootout, he admitted it was disappointing but felt relieved when Antonio Rudiger stepped up to secure the win.

“In the end, we won again. I had to miss, which is a shame, but Rudiger’s goal gave me a breather. What matters is the pass.”

In the end, what mattered most was advancing to the next round. He closed by reaffirming Madrid’s determination, promising that the team will continue to fight until the very end.

“We’re doing well and we’re going to fight until the end. Rudi’s goal has given me a sigh of relief,” he noted.

Source: Mundo Deportivo