Courtois and Brahim open up after Real Madrid’s dramatic victory over Man City – ‘Deserved to win | OneFootball

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois believes his team fully deserved their 3-2 victory over Manchester City, attributing the win to their strong belief and confidence on the pitch.

He highlighted that Real Madrid felt superior to the English side and that their determination played a crucial role in securing the result.

Reflecting on the match, Courtois acknowledged that Manchester City’s attacking strength made them a difficult opponent but insisted that winning—even while conceding goals—is what truly matters.

“They are an offensive team. It is better to win even if you have to concede goals. We played a good game, we conceded two goals with a bit of bad luck,” he began saying.

He noted that Real Madrid played well despite conceding twice, with City’s first goal coming from a well-executed play and the second from a penalty.

Thibaut Courtois made some good saves against Manchester City. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

However, he stressed that his side controlled the game and were the better team overall. When the score was 2-1, Madrid never lost belief, pushing forward to equalise before ultimately sealing the win.

“We dominated the game and deserved to win. With the score at 2-1, the team believed in the draw and then came the 2-3 because we believed and felt stronger than them.”

Need to improve

The Belgian goalkeeper also admitted there are areas the team must improve, particularly in pressing their opponents to prevent unnecessary goals.

He felt the penalty decision against them was somewhat harsh but maintained that the squad remained composed and focused.

“We have to improve a little because the goal we conceded came from poor pressure. But we felt good on the pitch and calm enough to play our game. The penalty was a little light, but it was called. We continued to believe,” he added.

Brahim Diaz’s assessment

Meanwhile, Brahim Diaz, one of Madrid’s goal scorers on the night, credited the victory to their ability to capitalise on Manchester City’s defensive mistakes.

Brahim Diaz was on the scoresheet against City. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

He pointed out that Real Madrid created numerous chances by exploiting errors from their opponents, demonstrating their competitive edge. For Brahim, this performance showcased exactly what Real Madrid stands for.

“We took advantage of their mistakes, we created many chances through their errors. We have worked very well and we have competed very well. This is Real Madrid,” he said.

Having previously played for Manchester City, Brahim initially chose not to celebrate his goal. However, he later expressed his happiness at scoring for Real Madrid, a club he has always dreamed of representing.

While he remains grateful for his time in Manchester, he made it clear that his focus is now entirely on Madrid’s success.

“I’m at the best club in the world, very happy to be here, where I’ve always dreamed of being. Then I celebrated where I am, but it’s clear that I’ve been here for quite a few years and I’m very grateful to Manchester City,” he explained.

With this result, Real Madrid head into the second leg with an advantage, but they know they must remain focused to finish the job at home.

Source: Mundo Deportivo