Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has said that if their Champions League final against Liverpool goes the distance on Saturday, he would not be frightened to take a penalty.
Courtois has a great record saving penalties this season, having saved three of the five he has faced, including one from Lionel Messi in the first leg of the last 16 against Paris Saint-Germain.
It was a pivotal moment for Madrid, who fought back from a 1-0 deficit in the second leg to win the contest 3-2.
In the Spanish Super Cup final against Atletico Madrid in 2020, the Belgian dove to palm away Thomas Partey’s attempt, which led to Madrid’s most recent penalty shoot-out triumph. In 2016, Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid in a Champions League final that went to penalties.
Courtois said that he will conduct his study on Liverpool’s most probable suitors, and that the 30-year-old is also willing to step up if necessary.
“I remember scoring one in pre-season with Chelsea against PSG and missing one in the Community Shield against Arsenal,” Courtois remarked. “Conte placed me there because he knew I could shoot well, but being on the spot in such a crucial situation is definitely different.
“I’m not one of the first five (takers), but if you have to shoot, you have to shoot. I’m not afraid of it. It’s your chance to shine.
“We won a Super Cup shootout against Atletico Madrid a few years back, and I saved one penalty. This season, I’ve managed to preserve three.
“You prepare ahead of time. We had two penalties against Chelsea, and you should analyze them because there are some parallels. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but if it does, I’ll be ready.”
Mohamed Salah has previously said that he wants vengeance for Liverpool’s defeat to Real Madrid in the 2018 Champions League final, in which Madrid won thanks to two blunders by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius.
A few weeks later, Liverpool purchased Alisson Becker for a world-record fee of 75 million euros, and the Brazilian has been a revelation ever since.
“He’s a fantastic goalie,” Courtois stated. “He is one of the finest goalkeepers in the world, based on my experiences playing against him in England and with Real.
“He is a fantastic player who has rescued Liverpool on several occasions. Nowadays, you need a strong defense and goalie, as well as forwards who can score goals; this is what gets you far.”
“It was a lot different 15 or 20 years ago,” Courtois said. “To be a goalie these days, you must be a playmaker from the back, coming out as a ‘libero’ to (meet) the ball in behind and sprint out to collect it.
“They want you to be composed on the ball and make crucial passes, but you are the last guy on the field, so you don’t have anybody to rescue you.
“You know that mistakes happen, and I’m hoping that it won’t happen to me. That is not something I want to wish on any goalie.”
Real Madrid has showed its magic touch in the Champions League this season, after overcoming PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City in three successive comebacks to reach the final.
“Just look at the games we played at home against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Manchester City. The response of the opposing team when we equalize or score that goal shows that they are aware of what might happen “Courtois said.
“The players’ reactions can be seen at 1-1 vs City. That is what makes Madrid so unique, why it is so fascinating, and why people speak so much about Real Madrid’s past.”
Real Madrid will be pursuing a record-extending 14th European Cup, while Liverpool will be chasing their seventh, tying them with AC Milan as the competition’s second most successful club.
This season, Liverpool has already won the League Cup and FA Cup in England.
“We don’t have to go wild because it’s a back-and-forth game,” Courtois said. “We must be clear about how we want to play and how we do not wish to play their game. The most essential thing is to get them to play our game.”