Sporting or Man City Courtois hits back: It's been a long time | OneFootball

Although Vinícius Júnior sealed the knockout against Benfica with a goal in the final stretch, it was Thibaut Courtois who shone in the first half, with a decisive save at the 38th minute that helped Real Madrid hold onto the result. Now, the goalkeeper admits he would prefer to play against Sporting in the Champions League round of 16.

At the end of the match, the Belgian goalkeeper explained the play, in statements to Movistar Plus+ Deportes: "I saw a picture and defended well... The ball goes between the legs and I am well positioned down low, ready to defend," he began to state.

Asked about the agility he demonstrated despite his stature, Courtois revealed the origin of his physical ability: "It's the genes from my parents, who played volleyball. And I also played. It's a save where you pull the leg away, and that way, you quickly reach the ground. It's a technique I learned at Chelsea and that, sometimes, is useful to us..."

Satisfied with the qualification, the Belgian international also anticipated a possible reunion with Manchester City, a usual opponent in recent editions of the Champions League. "We will meet them, yes," he joked, before also mentioning Sporting: "But it's been a long time since I played against Sporting, they have a beautiful stadium. They are a tough opponent, doing very well in the Portuguese league, but we've played a lot against Manchester City, it's the dream lottery game."

Despite the victory, Courtois acknowledged that the team still has room for improvement: "We lack fluidity and speed with the ball. We need to move it more from side to side, move them more. If we take too long to pass, the opponent settles in, that's what the coach asks of us. I think we're not playing brilliantly, but what matters now is winning."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.