Real Madrid News
Real Madrid mainstay opens up on Eden Hazard’s retirement: “It was not a surprise”
Thibaut Courtois has been able to play no part in Real Madrid’s campaign so far after his ACL team early in pre-season.
He will likely miss the entirety of the campaign with Kepa Arrizabalaga stepping in as a deputy. Needless to say, the Belgian’s absence leaves a void that cannot be filled.
The Real Madrid goalkeeper interacted with RTBF Sport recently in an elaborate interview where he spoke in detail about the retirement of his long-time teammate and compatriot Eden Hazard.
“It was not a surprise. We went to eat together in September and I already felt that it was over in his head, when he received several offers. I just didn’t know when he was going to announce it,” he said, revealing that the announcement was pending for a long time.
Courtois went on to add a note on the Belgian winger’s impact on the world of football and a glorious career over the past decade.
“Naturally, it’s a bit of a shame (Hazard retiring) because Eden is a special player, it’s a shame that he is no longer a footballer. But it’s his choice. He had a long career, he started very early as a professional in Lille. So in the end he had a nice career,” he remarked.
“We must be happy with what he has done for our country and for the world of football,” he added.
Eden Hazard’s career went downhill after joining Real Madrid, and the winger never really picked himself up. Speaking about the turbulent end to a special career, Courtois said:
“It’s just a shame to see how the last years of Hazard’s career went. But sometimes it’s part of football. Small injuries are always a shame, for all players. I would have liked to see him play at Real Madrid like he did at Chelsea, but it’s part of football.”
The shot-stopper went on to praise Hazard for the person and player that he was and how he was a loved presence both on and off the field.
“Hazard is a great player, a great person, everyone loves him. That’s why I think everyone is a little disappointed that it didn’t go as we hoped at Real Madrid. But it’s part of the sport. I don’t think we can forget the player Eden Hazard.”
Courtois is one of the few players to have shared the dressing room with the now-retired star with Chelsea, Real Madrid, and the Belgian national yeam. Of the various versions of the player, he picked Hazard’s time at Chelsea as the player’s peak.
“Hazard of Chelsea and the national team was one of the best players in the world. We can’t forget that,” Courtois stated.
Concluding, the Real Madrid mainstay said: “I wish him all the best in this new stage of his life. As he is here, in Madrid, we stay close and see each other at the next Eden barbecue.”
Real Madrid News
Mourinho talks Carlos Espi, Diomande, Guler, Tchouameni, Atletico Madrid after Elche 2-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid found another way to win, but Jose Mourinho was hardly celebrating the manner of it.
Carlos Espi’s injury-time strike completed a 3-2 comeback against Elche, rescuing Madrid after they had surrendered control of a game that appeared to be in their hands.
For Mourinho, the result was welcome, but the performance raised a familiar concern.
“When everything seems easy and you let things slide, it’s dangerous. Then the team reacts and wins, but it’s not pleasant.
“The other good thing is that nobody gets bored with these matches. They’re fun,” he began saying.
Mourinho knows what is going wrong
The Portuguese coach was particularly frustrated by another drop in intensity after the interval.
Real Madrid had opportunities to put the game beyond Elche before allowing their advantage to disappear. Mourinho believes that pattern is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
“It seems obvious to me. It’s easy to understand. These are games that are all but over, where we have chances to seal the deal but don’t. After failing to do so, we go from having it easy to losing control.
“If we play poorly from the first minute to the 90th, the concern is huge.
“If we have periods where we’re at our best and others where we’re not proactive, just waiting, lacking intensity… Of course it’s a concern. But we won.”
The win keeps Madrid moving, but Mourinho’s concern is less about the points than the way his team is repeatedly making matches unnecessarily complicated.
Carlos Espi again provided the decisive moment from the bench, although Mourinho knows breaking into the starting XI will be difficult with Mbappé ahead of him.
“He’s a guy who works hard and is very motivated,” Mourinho said.
He then added, “He’s up against a player who’s in a league of his own (Mbappe), and we’re well aware of that.”
Madrid derby comes at a delicate moment
Next up is Atletico Madrid, and Mourinho’s attention is already turning towards the derby.
Rather than focusing on the opposition, he remains concerned about his own side’s ability to manage matches.
“The only explanation I can find is that we can’t keep going like this. We misjudged the opportunities we had, and once they score a goal, everything changes,” explained the Real Madrid coach.
Meanwhile, there were positives to take from individual performances, as Mourinho praised Yan Diomande’s development after another energetic outing.
“He’s improving. Physically, you can tell he has more minutes under his belt. He has a great work ethic and intelligence—he’s done a great job.”
Mourinho refuses to call Guler indispensable
Arda Guler’s importance was also questioned after another fantastic performance, but Mourinho rejected the idea that any player is beyond replacement.
“No, no one is indispensable. We were losing control when I made the substitutions; Vini did a great job on defence, but he was very tired.
“And Arda, who was playing in the number 10 position, was also losing intensity.
“I brought in a fresh Jude and Brahim when we were down 0-2, but I could sense we were losing control. That’s how it goes for us. And then, we brought in the heavy artillery and turned it around.”
Mourinho was also pleased with Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde during Madrid’s strongest spells.
“When the team was playing well, he and Valverde were playing well. They broke through the pressure easily, with skill.
“But the game had two phases—or rather three: one until it was 0–2, another until it was 2–2, and another until the end. They did a good job,” he concluded.
Source: AS
