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

Although Vinícius Júnior sealed the tie against Benfica with a goal in the final stretch, it was Thibaut Courtois who shone in the first half, with a decisive intervention in 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 an interview with Movistar Plus+ Deportes: "I saw a picture and made a good save... The ball went between the legs and I was well positioned down low, ready to defend," he began.

Asked about the agility he showed despite his height, Courtois revealed the origin of his physical ability: "It's in my parents' genes, they played volleyball. And I played too. It's a save where you pull your leg away and that way you get to the ground quickly. It's a technique I learned at Chelsea and sometimes it's useful for us..."

Pleased with the qualification, the Belgian international also anticipated a possible reunion with Manchester City, a regular opponent in recent editions of the Champions League. "We're going to 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're a tough opponent, they're doing very well in the Portuguese league, but we've played Manchester City a lot, it's the dream lottery match."

Despite the win, Courtois acknowledged that the team still has room for improvement: "We're lacking fluidity and speed with the ball. We need to move it from side to side more, move them around more. If we take too long to pass, the opponent settles in, that's what the coach asks of us. I don't think we're 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.