Former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has refuted claims that Real Madrid were ‘lucky’ to get past the Blues in their Champions League quarter-final showdown at the Santiago Bernabeu. Thomas Tuchel’s men found themselves 3-1 behind heading to Spain but initially looked as though they had staged a memorable European comeback.
Goals from Mason Mount, Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner had put Chelsea on track for a second-consecutive Champions League semi-final appearance but a strike from Rodrygo and an extra-time winner from Karim Benzema saw the Blues’ hearts broken. Some have suggested that the Spanish giants were fortunate to not be eliminated from the competition but Courtois refutes that is the case despite suggesting that his former side displayed more quality on the night.
Speaking to Real Madrid’s official website, he said: "We weren't lucky, but it's true that they were the better team. We ultimately won the tie.”
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Having booked their place in the next stage of the competition, Los Blancos face another tough test in the form of Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Manchester City or indeed current Spanish champions Atletico Madrid should they stage their own impressive comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Whilst Courtois has been hailing Chelsea’s performance in Spain, Luka Modric has also signalled his admiration of their showing at the Bernabeu.
The Croatian playmaker said: “But Chelsea, we knew it even after the first game, that we would have a tough game.
“Because they are, for me, the most difficult team to play against. I watch them a lot because of my friend Mateo [Kovacic], how they play, and they are a very tough, physical team, very compact.
‘We knew that it was going to be tough – just like it was. But in the end we showed again great character, great desire, great togetherness and we managed to turn it around, which is amazing. A defeat that is very sweet!”
