Thibaut Courtois has denied claims that Real Madrid players were involved in the dismissal of Xabi Alonso as head coach in January.
The Spaniard departed the club earlier in the year after less than eight months in charge and was immediately replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa on interim basis.
The former Bayer Leverkusen coach was reported to have had several issues with top players at the club, most notably Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior, leading to his departure.
Speaking after Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, Courtois dismissed news of his teammates involvement in the decision to sack their former coach.
“Nobody tried to get Xabi fired,” Courtois said.
“We worked hard. People were saying we didn’t like the tactics, or the videos… Look, I had a coach like Antonio Conte who had us there for an hour every day, and it didn’t matter, because we’re professionals, work comes first. One thing is playing with your friends, but I’m a professional.
“If I have to watch a half-hour video I’ll do it. That’s how you prepare for games. In the summer I talked to NFL players who are there all day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. watching videos, and there’s no problem”, the Belgium goalkeeper added.
The record European champions delivered their best performance of the season in front of their home supporters as they thrashed their English opponents in their Round of 16 first leg clash.
Valverde netted a stunning hat-trick to put them one foot in the last eight, where they will possibly meet Bayern Munich.
“People have doubted our professionalism. The first months with Xabi went well, and suddenly we had a dip. That happens in football”, Courtois added.
Real Madrid will now head to the Etihad for next week’s second leg clash against Man City, hoping to build on their three-goal advantage to book their spot in the last eight.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
