Thibaut Courtois has confirmed his return to full fitness just in time for Real Madrid’s crucial Champions League quarter-final clash against Arsenal on Tuesday night. The Belgian goalkeeper, who has been sidelined for the past three matches due to injury, assured fans that he is ready to take the field at the Emirates Stadium.
“I’m fully fit and I feel good,” Courtois said during the pre-match press conference. “It wasn’t a serious issue. I’ve been training in the gym and was back on the pitch recently, so I feel 100 percent.”
Courtois’ return is a major boost for Real Madrid, especially after a tough weekend in La Liga where 19-year-old Fran Gonzalez had to step in during a 2-1 loss to Valencia. Backup keeper Andriy Lunin was also unavailable due to injury.
Courtois, a former Chelsea player familiar with English football, praised the Gunners’ development: “I respect Arsenal a lot. They’ve been great in the Premier League, with a strong mix of youth and experience. They press high, defend well, and are dangerous on the counter.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has called the match the biggest of his managerial career so far. Since taking charge in 2019, Arteta has turned Arsenal into Premier League contenders, though the 2020 FA Cup remains his only silverware to date.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti had nothing but praise for Arteta’s progress: “He’s built a complete team—one of the few in Europe that excels in every aspect of the game. They’re at the top of the Premier League and now in the Champions League quarter-finals. He’s doing a fantastic job.”
With two giants of European football set to collide, Tuesday’s match promises to be a thrilling encounter under the lights in London.
