Courtois talks Mbappe, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Alaba ahead of Brest vs Real Madrid | OneFootball

Real Madrid will be aiming to continue their recent winning run when they lock horns with Brest in their final league phase game of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.

The Merengues are currently 16th in the UCL table, with very slim of chances of finishing in the top eight to secure a direct qualification through to the Round of 16.

But with there still being a mathematical possibility, the minimum that Carlo Ancelotti & co. must do is win their match on Wednesday and hope other results go their way.

On the eve of the match, star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois attended the press conference with Ancelotti and addressed various topics.

On the game and opposition

Discussing tomorrow’s contest against Brest at the Guingamp stadium, the Belgian international said:

“We are coming in very well, playing well and scoring a lot of goals. As well as defending better. It will be a tough game, against a very physical opponent, who have a very tall strike and players with quality.

“We have to be competitive and play a great game. And win.”

On Real Madrid’s chances of finishing in the top eight of the table and qualify directly for the Round of 16, he added:

“The important thing is to win… and we’ll see. Let’s not speculate. There are so many games that, during the 90 minutes, many things can happen.

“The point is that it’s not tomorrow that we should win, but in other matches. But let’s win tomorrow and we’ll see if we have a chance of reaching the Top 8.”

Regarding tomorrow’s opponents, Brest, Courtois noted: “It’s a very cold city, but there are cold cities in Spain too.

“Of course I’m surprised by the level of Brest, they’re playing very well and physically they’re doing very well, so we’ll have to work very hard. But we’re going for it.”

On whether he knows any players from Brest, the Real Madrid goalkeeper added: “Not really, only the goalkeeper, because he played in Belgium. But I’ve seen several matches, like the one against Leverkusen, and it’s a team that knows what they play.

“They want the ball and don’t leave spaces. They always play in their opponents’ half and they are tough at home. It will be difficult, intense.”

On team’s form and players

In top form. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Courtois went on to praise star forward Kylian Mbappe, who has been in brilliant form in recent weeks, while also hailing Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo Goes.

“Yes, for sure. He’s one of the best in the world… and we’re lucky enough to have some of the best in the world: Kylian, Vini… even Rodrygo. It’s better to have them for us than against us,” he said.

Ancelotti has repeatedly stressed that Real Madrid need to get better defensively after some of their performances this season. When asked if that is an area that he thinks needs improvement, Courtois replied:

“I see the team aware of the importance of starting well. Against Las Palmas they scored early, in Valladolid we stopped one… we have to take care of the starts, because we complicate the games senselessly.

“But this is something for all eleven players, not just the defenders. The forwards also have to press well, for example. To go far we have to improve in defence, because in attack we’re doing well.”

Discussing the performances of David Alaba following his return to action after over a year, Courtois said:

“I think he’s doing very well. After being out for a year, you have to get into a rhythm and as there are no friendlies left, he has to do it by coming into these games. But I see him well. He’s gaining confidence.

“Only those of us who have been through something like this know how hard it is, how difficult it is. But I told him ‘you’ll see how in a few months you’ll be there, playing the ball’ and that’s how it’s been.

“We are very happy with his return and we are sure that he will be important between now and the end of the season.”

On performance against the big teams

On whether Real Madrid are suffering a lot more when compared to other big teams in the Champions League, he added:

“There are a lot of things to take into account to find the balance. But even if we lose some games, we are still alive in everything and we see ourselves capable of beating the big teams in Europe.

“It will be difficult to finish in the Top-8, but we’ll have to face them later on. The Champions League is very tough and, despite the doubts, I don’t feel that we are no longer favourites.”

On being asked if there was a feeling of outstanding debt when it comes to the big games, in terms of the team’s performances, within the dressing room, Courtois remarked:

“There are still a lot of games left. The derby is close, for example, but we’re going to look at the games before that. The Super Cup was a blow, but the reaction has been good. Win tomorrow, then Espanyol… and then the derby.

“We’ll see how we are against the big teams, but what we have to do is show in every game that we are great.”

Source: AS