Courtois: I'm glad the overseas matches are cancelled, all clubs must vote on it

In the third round of the Champions League group stage, Real Madrid secured a 1-0 home victory over Juventus. Following the match, Thibaut Courtois addressed media representatives in the mixed zone, discussing his performance, tactical approaches, and the cancellation of La Liga's overseas fixtures.

Regarding match performance

‘I'm delighted to have fulfilled my role and helped the team secure victory – that's what matters most.’

On the team's tactics

‘The manager suggested the wingers stretch the play wide, as we were struggling to create effective threats through the middle. So we needed to accelerate the ball movement, shifting rapidly from one flank to the other to find openings. We executed this tactic well afterwards and ultimately scored. However, I feel we had chances to add another goal and make the result more secure.’

On the duel with Vlahović

"This was my 300th appearance for Real Madrid, and we kept a clean sheet. Winning in this manner brings me immense satisfaction. Both Vlahović and Militão possess tremendous pace, so I deliberately adopted a deeper defensive stance. When they attacked, I swiftly closed down shooting angles while extending my reach with arms and legs to maximise coverage. The save proved crucial and was pivotal to the match's outcome."

Cancellation of the Miami La Liga overseas fixture

‘I'm satisfied with this outcome. A match lacking transparency holds no merit. As I stated yesterday, league fixtures should be played at home grounds – it's common sense. Should similar proposals arise, all clubs must vote collectively, with unanimous agreement required.’

‘I believe that if you value La Liga and its brand as the world's finest league, you shouldn't relocate league fixtures to other countries. Instead, we should focus on filling our home stadiums to capacity while continuously improving other aspects.’

‘While the Financial Fair Play regulations themselves are sound, the reality is that many clubs have been forced to sell players to meet compliance requirements. And just this September, some teams performed “miracles” to register new signings – this is fundamentally unsustainable and should be the primary area for reform. Pre-season fixtures exist precisely for this purpose. Beyond that, there are numerous other avenues to enhance the league's overall image.’

Regarding Juventus

"That's football – you never know what might happen in a match. Juventus created several threatening opportunities through their passing, putting us on the back foot. We adjusted our approach promptly and improved our finishing. When employing man-marking in defence, every player must run tirelessly and defend diligently. Against opponents like Juventus, that's perfectly normal. After all, this is the Champions League. You can't expect opponents to have zero shots on target and then win 3-0."

What does Xabi Alonso demand of you?

"To strive to save every shot. He wants me positioned higher up the pitch, so I can participate in the team's build-up play when teammates pass behind me, and also contribute through my own passing. Essentially, those are the demands, not dissimilar to what Ancelotti expects of me."

Pre-match thoughts on the Spanish Clásico

‘Solid defence forms the foundation for any match. Keeping a clean sheet significantly boosts our chances of victory. Clásicos against Barcelona have traditionally been attacking spectacles. This will undoubtedly be a tough encounter, and we must be fully prepared.’