Courtois makes honest Chelsea assessment following Champions League tie vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois puts Chelsea in the front seat while assessing the game

Speaking in the post-match press conference as quoted by Real Madrid’s official site, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois described Chelsea as the dominant team in the Champions League second leg. 

Starting yesterday’s second leg tie with determination and hunger, Chelsea went ahead of Real Madrid by scoring three goals inside the 75th-minute mark. However, they failed to hold their posture until the end and gave away two goals, undoing much of their good work until that point.

Apart from the two goals, Chelsea were a much better team on the ground and won the battle on paper if we compare the stats. Had we taken our chances, we could as well have been talking about a comeback against all odds.

After the end of the match, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois lauded Chelsea’s efforts and termed them as the better side on the occasion. It is a very candid observation by the former Blues star.

“We weren’t lucky, but it’s true that they were the better team. We ultimately won the tie,”

The Belgian star indicated that Chelsea’s success in the fixture wasn’t luck, respecting the incredible effort and attitude his former teammates showcased until the end of the match. Unfortunately, it did not prove to be enough.

What positives can Chelsea take from the game?

Chelsea dominated the game from the start despite coming into the fixture as underdogs. Blues players like Mason Mount, Antonio Rudiger, and Marcos Alonso gave world-class performances in the tie, worthy of securing the man of the match award.  

The margin for error was minimal for Chelsea as they were trailing by 3-1 in the home fixture. That might be one of the reasons why they lost the match despite making fewer mistakes than their opponent.

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Even though Chelsea couldn’t defend their title, their response after the loss in Stamford Bridge reflected the attitude of a champion team that has been respected by the opposing players as well.   

The Blues are still alive in major domestic competitions, and they should reflect significant points from their loss. It would help them assess their mistakes and become more robust in the coming fixtures.