Courtois tells Real Madrid they must stay hungry again
In the quiet of the Real Madrid training ground, 34‑year‑old Thibaut Courtois lingered alone, having turned down a call‑up for the Belgian national team to keep his focus on the club. In a candid Radioestadio Noche interview he declared, “We are very hungry”, sending a clear message to Los Blancos.
Beyond the forwards
While forwards like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior usually take most of the spotlight, many argue that the goalkeeper has been the most important player for Real Madrid in recent years. Courtois himself highlighted his impact, noting that his saves have often been the difference between defeat and victory.
The Belgian has not only rescued his side with spectacular interventions, but he has also emerged as one of the most vocal leaders in the Merengue dressing‑room, constantly urging teammates to raise their standards.
Mourinho and the Merengue mindset
This season, as Los Blancos strive to recover from a difficult start, Courtois’s presence is deemed crucial for Jose Mourinho’s side. He is currently training at the Real Madrid facilities, having refrained from joining his national team to concentrate fully on the club’s objectives.
Speaking to Radioestadio Noche, he praised the club’s ambition: “It’s not usual. A lot of trophies have been won over the last 15 years. We are very hungry to win that many trophies again. That’s what Madrid demands of you and what we see every day when we walk through the doors. Valdebebas is impressive because of how the first team and the academy are together. In London, it is more divided.”
Courtois also reflected on Mourinho’s evolution since their Chelsea days: “He is just as good as the one I knew at Chelsea. The ideas are different because football has evolved since then. I think he is calmer in his day‑to‑day life and when dealing with the media. But he still pushes hard on the pitch and in meetings, and he still says things to your face. From the outside, he is perhaps more mature, more experienced and less agitated.”
Champions League hunger
When asked about honesty within the squad, the veteran keeper said, “Sometimes there are things that need to be kept within the club. I don’t think that when I go into a mixed zone I am going to throw a teammate or the team under the bus. In the end, I usually say it as it is. It’s my view of a match, and sometimes I’m wrong too. In 2018 against France, I went to speak to the press and got very heated, and to this day they still joke about it in France. I’m the first to admit it when I get things wrong.”
He recalled his childhood dream of wearing the white shirt: “When I started playing as a goalkeeper, I looked up to Casillas and Real Madrid a lot. I had a huge Bernabéu flag in my room. But I also had flags of Chelsea and other teams. But Madrid has always been the dream.”
Looking ahead, Courtois stressed his desire to add more Champions League titles: “It was the objective. But you can never take it for granted. Look at Mbappe, who came here and PSG went on to win two Champions Leagues. After that Lisbon final, I returned to Chelsea, saw Ramos celebrating on a huge billboard and said: ‘Now I have to see the celebration too.’”
At 34, the Belgian acknowledges that his playing years are limited, yet he remains determined to lead the Merengue back to European glory.