Thibaut Courtois offered his thoughts on Real Madrid’s 1–1 draw with Al Hilal in their Club World Cup opener, acknowledging both the challenges of the match and the transitional period the team is undergoing under new coach Xabi Alonso.

“We didn’t have a great first half—it was a bit slow, and they played better. Still, we went ahead. Then came a rather unnecessary penalty that leveled things,” Courtois said in the mixed zone. “At halftime we talked things over, and the second half was much better. We had more chances and even a penalty, but it just wasn’t meant to be.”

He emphasized the shift in playing style under Alonso: “We’re trying to implement new ideas, but obviously you can’t change everything in just four days. After four years under a different manager, some habits are still there. We tried to be more aggressive and push the defensive line higher. The first half was too passive, but we improved in the second.”

Regarding his fitness and the hot Florida weather, Courtois smiled: “Physically, I feel good. The heat is tough, but I think it’s worse for the outfield players who run more. We just have to be ready for Sunday—we know what it’s like to play at 3 p.m. in this kind of heat.”

The Belgian goalkeeper also acknowledged the team’s effort to follow Alonso’s instructions: “We’re training hard and doing our best to carry out what he asks. It’s not always easy to apply it immediately during games. A draw isn’t the best start, but now we have to go all-in for the next two matches.”

He concluded with a note on the collective responsibility: “It’s more of a question for Xabi, but we were too slow in the first half. We need to move quicker as a unit. The midfield can’t sit too close to the defense—that creates hesitation for the forwards.”

********************************************************

You can now download the Madridista News App for free on the Apple Store and Google Play.

You can follow us on Facebook here.

You can follow us on X (Twitter) here.                                                                    

You can follow us on Instagram here.

You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here.

You can follow us on Telegram here.

You can follow us on TikTok here.

You can join our WhatsApp channel here.