Real Madrid goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois has revealed the costly mistake he made during his side’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final 3-0 defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday.
After a 0-0 draw in the first half,
Declan Rice broke the deadlock with a brilliant free-kick, curling the ball around the four-man wall that Courtois had installed, into the back of the net.
Mikel Merino added Arsenal’s third as the the Gunners took a giant step towards reaching the Champions League semi-finals and knocking out the Los Blancos.
Speaking after the game, Courtois admitted that his failure to put an extra man in that wall really cost Real Madrid.
The Belgium international, however, took full responsibility for Rice’s free-kick goals.
“I thought I’d positioned the wall well,’ Courtois told Movistar. “I usually put an extra man in.
“I take responsibility for that. I could have put an extra man in, but I thought [Rice] wouldn’t get as much curl on it.
“The second goal is a great goal but they were unnecessary fouls, when there was no danger. Perhaps we shouldn’t make those fouls.”
Courtois will hope Real Madrid turn things around when they face the Premier League club next week.