Thibaut Courtois acknowledged that his remarkable first-half save against Dominik Szoboszlai “wasn’t exactly textbook for goalkeepers,” although it was crucial in Real Madrid’s 1-0 loss to Liverpool on Tuesday.
Courtois made a total of eight saves at Anfield, with the standout moment occurring in the 27th minute when he thwarted Szoboszlai in a one-on-one situation from close range.
This match marked Madrid’s first defeat in the Champions League this season, following three victories and draws against Olympiacos and Manchester City in their upcoming matches.
<p"To make a good save, you have to position yourself well," Courtois explained to Movistar regarding the Szoboszlai incident. "He was all alone, and if I had remained on the goal line, it would have been nearly impossible to stop him, almost like a penalty shot.
“I wanted to go for the cross, but it could have been risky. Standing at 2 meters tall, I used my long arms and launched myself at the shot, trying to make myself as big as possible. It wasn’t a conventional save, but it got the job done.”
Courtois admitted that Madrid “struggled a bit offensively” and “lost too many duels” during the match, posting an expected goals statistic of just 0.45 in contrast to Liverpool’s 2.58.
“We didn’t control enough possession in the opposition’s half, which is where we need to be,” he said. “We have to improve when playing away against strong teams… We are capable of better performances. These matches often come down to small details, and that’s what occurred. We need to stay composed; we’re still in a good position. A win at Olympiacos would keep us on track to qualify for the next round.”
Having secured a victory against Barcelona in El Clásico last month, Real Madrid’s record now includes losses against Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, and Liverpool under coach Xabi Alonso.
“There are different ways to lose a game,” Alonso commented after the match. “Today’s performance was very different from our earlier defeat to Atletico. We gave our all, competed well, and maintained a good attitude. However, we still need to address certain areas for improvement.”
Alonso dismissed any suggestions that his team had lacked intensity.
“No, that’s not the impression I got,” he stated. “I believe we competed effectively… Thibaut kept us in the game, and while the goal gave them a lead, I can’t fault the team… We are disappointed with the loss, but we need to push forward.”
“I believe [Liverpool] had a slight advantage,” said midfielder Jude Bellingham. “They were more effective in the second half, and they’re a real threat from set pieces… It’s still early in the season. Last year, we faced worse circumstances in the Champions League but still managed to advance. We can’t let this setback derail our progress.”