Thibaut Courtois has admitted they failed to follow the game plan after Real Madrid’s 4-0 Club World Cup semifinal loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
Reacting following the defeat, the goalie said PSG’s early press caught them off guard. He said the squad ignored the tactical directions to take advantage of space behind the French side’s high line.
“We didn’t follow the coach’s plan,” he stated. “They pressed well and found the open man. We struggled to keep shape and gave them too much space, especially in the first half.”
After the first 45 minutes of action, Los Blancos improved but failed to record a shot on target. The Belgium international observed that the first two goals totally changed the balance of power to Parisian giants and his team was left lagging.
He continued: “It’s a tough defeat but one to learn from. Sometimes a blow like this helps you keep improving. They’re at the top level. They won the Champions League. We need to work harder to reach that.
“We were late and out of position. Against a team with that pace, that kills you. When you’re stretched out and leave too much space, they punish you,” he concluded.
Still, Real Madrid did not have all good news. Both Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez are departing from the club. The loss was a painful goodbye. The 33-year-old lauded their legacy, noting that they were club legends.
Hoping this setback ignites their hunger to come back stronger, Xabi Alonso’s men will now focus on next season.
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