We are also favourites
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
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Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois took part in a press conference before the Champions League match vs Shakhtar
- The Champions League is very important for us, it’s a special tournament. We should start it well ‘cause it’s gonna be a home game. We’ll try to get three points. If we play successfully, it will be a great start.
- Are you at your best now?
- I feel great. Nothing’s changed: I continue working just like on day one. It takes time to change something. I know that I’ll continue benefitting the team.
- What can you say about Sergio Ramos? He won't play?
- We'll see tomorrow. He is the captain, his participation or absence is really important. In any case, there are some other defenders, they are ready. We’ve got top footballers, the world class ones. If he can’t participate, we will miss him but I’m sure that we all will play well.
- Last year you had many more shots on target. Against Cadiz and Levante, for example, you didn't use many chances. What’s changed offensively and how can you solve this issue?
- Much depends on who we play. Cadiz, of course, defend well, and so do Levante. They defend compactly as a block, sealing off the strikers, and breaking those lines isn’t easy. We try to bring more ideas into our attacking. Well, not everything works yet, but we work day by day and try to change the situation for the better.
- Perhaps for the first time you are not favourites in the Champions League. Some people say that Real Madrid's squad or those on the bench simply don’t deserve winning the competition ...
- I don’t think so, I’ve got full confidence in our squad. We strive to win every match. I think we are also favourites in the tournament. We will try to prove it all on the pitch. There are many strong players in our team.
- There are clubs that are better prepared. Do you continue seeing Real Madrid as favourites? You probably don't have the same team who used to win the Champions League. Are there any football facts to enable you to advance from this group and continue competing for the trophy?
- Sure. The season is very long, we have a great desire: we want to fight for the Champions League trophy just like others. This is not to say that we are clear favourites, but we’re among them! We’ll fight for victory to the end. We are among the major clubs in the world, we have a strong league. And Real Madrid will always be the favourites anyway.
- The second goalkeeper at Real is a Ukrainian Andrii Lunin. Do you have any competition? What’s his chance of winning your place in the starting XI?
- Lunin is a very good keeper, his entire life is ahead. He plays well and proves himself in training. We play together all the time, we both try to get better and always be ready.
- Madrid has been fully locked down now, Ukraine also experiences an outbreak of coronavirus. Won’t it be scary to go to Ukraine in December for you?
- Nope. The lockdown is a temporary obstacle. Each country makes its own decisions to tackle the situation to do the best for the league and the Champions League to be held on. I think we can play in any country. Let's see how events will develop, but we will try to play both tomorrow and in the return leg up to the mark.
- Are you at your best now?
- I feel great. Nothing’s changed: I continue working just like on day one. It takes time to change something. I know that I’ll continue benefitting the team.
- What can you say about Sergio Ramos? He won't play?
- We'll see tomorrow. He is the captain, his participation or absence is really important. In any case, there are some other defenders, they are ready. We’ve got top footballers, the world class ones. If he can’t participate, we will miss him but I’m sure that we all will play well.
- Last year you had many more shots on target. Against Cadiz and Levante, for example, you didn't use many chances. What’s changed offensively and how can you solve this issue?
- Much depends on who we play. Cadiz, of course, defend well, and so do Levante. They defend compactly as a block, sealing off the strikers, and breaking those lines isn’t easy. We try to bring more ideas into our attacking. Well, not everything works yet, but we work day by day and try to change the situation for the better.
- Perhaps for the first time you are not favourites in the Champions League. Some people say that Real Madrid's squad or those on the bench simply don’t deserve winning the competition ...
- I don’t think so, I’ve got full confidence in our squad. We strive to win every match. I think we are also favourites in the tournament. We will try to prove it all on the pitch. There are many strong players in our team.
- There are clubs that are better prepared. Do you continue seeing Real Madrid as favourites? You probably don't have the same team who used to win the Champions League. Are there any football facts to enable you to advance from this group and continue competing for the trophy?
- Sure. The season is very long, we have a great desire: we want to fight for the Champions League trophy just like others. This is not to say that we are clear favourites, but we’re among them! We’ll fight for victory to the end. We are among the major clubs in the world, we have a strong league. And Real Madrid will always be the favourites anyway.
- The second goalkeeper at Real is a Ukrainian Andrii Lunin. Do you have any competition? What’s his chance of winning your place in the starting XI?
- Lunin is a very good keeper, his entire life is ahead. He plays well and proves himself in training. We play together all the time, we both try to get better and always be ready.
- Madrid has been fully locked down now, Ukraine also experiences an outbreak of coronavirus. Won’t it be scary to go to Ukraine in December for you?
- Nope. The lockdown is a temporary obstacle. Each country makes its own decisions to tackle the situation to do the best for the league and the Champions League to be held on. I think we can play in any country. Let's see how events will develop, but we will try to play both tomorrow and in the return leg up to the mark.