Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has admitted that his side were not good enough during their Madrid Derby defeat, while also calling for improvements in both their football and officiating.
Speaking to Onda Cero, Courtois was direct when assessing Real Madrid’s performance against Atlético Madrid.
We lost because we weren’t good enough. We need to play better football.
The Belgian goalkeeper, however, also expressed his frustration with the refereeing decisions during the derby, suggesting that both the referee and VAR could have performed better.
With that being said, I hope the referee and VAR improve. It wasn’t their best day.
Courtois’ comments come as Real Madrid continue to navigate a demanding season, with the goalkeeper remaining an important figure between the posts. The Belgian has been at Madrid since 2018 and has won multiple major trophies with the club, including two Champions League titles.
Softfootball reports that Courtois is also already thinking about life beyond his playing career, although retirement does not appear to be close. The 34-year-old reportedly wants to continue playing for another five or six years before considering the next stage of his football journey.
Rather than immediately moving into coaching, Courtois has spoken about remaining involved in football through goalkeeper development. One project he is particularly interested in is establishing a goalkeeper academy where he could pass his experience and knowledge on to younger players.
For now, however, Courtois remains focused on his playing career and helping Real Madrid compete for more trophies, while acknowledging that the team must improve its performances on the pitch.
