Real Madrid suffered a tough 3-0 defeat to Arsenal this Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois analyzed his team's loss, highlighting the lack of concentration in the second half of the match.

Courtois: "In the second half, we forgot how to play good football"

Despite showing a solid performance in the first half, Real Madrid couldn't maintain their rhythm and fell under the pressure from Arsenal. Courtois explained that although his team managed to resist well and generate counter-attacking chances in the first 45 minutes, they couldn't sustain their level of play in the second half.

"Arsenal is a strong team, they press well and play smartly between the lines," said the goalkeeper, who noted that the first half was quite balanced. However, he acknowledged that in the second half, the team lost control of the game and struggled to manage possession. "We forgot how to play good football. We couldn't find free players and weren't calm with the ball," Courtois explained.

The goalkeeper also commented on Arsenal's goals, especially the two impressive free kicks scored by Declan Rice. "They scored two amazing free kicks, and then came the third... We didn't react well," Courtois said. Despite the heavy defeat, the Belgian is confident in his team's ability to turn the situation around in the second leg, which will take place next week at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Confidence in the comeback

Although the scoreline is challenging for Real Madrid, Courtois remains optimistic. "3-0 at home is difficult, but we know we're strong at our stadium. People need to keep believing in this team," said the goalkeeper. "If we manage to score one or two quick goals in the return leg, the third will come by itself. A comeback is possible, but it's not the best start," he added.

Throughout the interview, Courtois also acknowledged that Arsenal took advantage of his team's weaknesses and made them pay for defensive errors, such as unnecessary fouls that led to the two free-kick goals. "On the first one, I thought I had placed the wall well, but Rice executed it perfectly. I can take responsibility for that foul," the goalkeeper admitted. "It's better not to give away fouls against teams like Arsenal, but I'll keep studying and analyzing to avoid conceding in that way in the return leg," he concluded.

Real Madrid's challenge

With the score at 3-0, Carlo Ancelotti and his team will face a historic comeback challenge at the Santiago Bernabéu. The defeat has left Real Madrid on the brink of elimination, but the team has the quality and experience to turn the tie around, which will be crucial in the difficult task ahead.