Thibaut Courtois has added fuel to Manchester City's misery following their 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid at the Etihad in the Champions League. The loss, which saw Jude Bellingham score a dramatic late winner for Madrid, comes after a tough season for Pep Guardiola’s team, who have struggled with consistency and confidence. Courtois, the Real Madrid goalkeeper, claimed that his team’s belief and determination were stronger than City’s, contributing to their comeback victory.
City, after taking a 2-1 lead, seemed on course to secure the win, but a last-minute goal by Bellingham handed Madrid the upper hand in the tie. The match continued a worrying trend for Guardiola’s men, who have failed to hold onto leads this season. Just months after a series of disappointing results, including a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Arsenal, City are still feeling the effects of their struggles.
In his post-match comments, Courtois highlighted that Madrid, despite conceding two goals, had the right mentality to turn the game around. He admitted that the team was unlucky to concede both goals but emphasized that Madrid's resilience played a pivotal role in their victory. "We believed in ourselves, even at 2-1 down. We felt stronger than them," he said. He also pointed out that the team maintained composure, playing their game confidently to claim the win. He noted that while City’s penalty may have been questionable, Madrid’s belief ultimately made the difference
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The loss to Madrid added to City’s frustrating season, where they have struggled to close out games. A 2-0 lead over Brentford in January evaporated in the final minutes, with City only managing a 2-2 draw. In another match, City was up 2-0 against PSG but ended up on the wrong end of a 4-2 defeat. These recent results highlight City’s inability to handle pressure in crucial moments.
Brahim Diaz, who scored against his former club in the win, also took the opportunity to criticize City’s performance. "We capitalized on their mistakes," Diaz said, praising Madrid’s ability to take advantage of City’s errors. He added that his team’s preparation and execution had been spot-on, showcasing the competitiveness of Real Madrid. For Madrid, the victory not only secured an advantage in the tie but also served as a reminder of their ability to remain focused and fight back, even in difficult situations.
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