Thibaut Courtois States Joselu's Absence Impacted Real Madrid's Performance Against Arsenal

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Real Madrid's goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, expressed his belief that the absence of a player like Joselu was a significant factor in their 2-1 loss to Arsenal in the Champions League. Despite dominating possession with 66.1%, Madrid struggled to create clear chances, managing only three shots on target from 43 crosses. Arsenal's defence proved challenging to break down.

In the second leg of the quarter-final, Real Madrid faced difficulties in breaking through Arsenal's defence. The team was unable to overturn their 3-0 first-leg deficit at Emirates Stadium. This marked their first exit at this stage since 2004 against Monaco. Courtois highlighted how Joselu's presence last season helped them overcome Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.

Courtois noted that Arsenal defended effectively and pressed high, making it tough for Madrid to find openings. "We put in a lot of crosses, but we don't have a Joselu to win those aerial duels," he told Movistar. Joselu had moved to Qatar after helping Madrid secure their 15th European title, but his absence was felt keenly during this match.

The match saw Real Madrid register an expected goals (xG) of just 1.5 compared to Arsenal's 2.05 xG. This included Bukayo Saka's penalty, which Courtois saved in the first half. Despite this crucial save, Madrid couldn't capitalise on the momentum shift it could have provided.

Captain Lucas Vazquez echoed Courtois' sentiments about the team's attacking struggles. He acknowledged that they created only one significant chance despite having most of the ball. "Maybe we lacked clarity with the ball," Vazquez said, emphasising the need for patience and better ball movement.

Despite their efforts, Real Madrid found themselves outplayed by Arsenal on this occasion. "It wasn't enough; Arsenal were superior," Courtois admitted after the match. The team remains determined to bounce back from this setback and focus on upcoming challenges.

The players appreciated the support from fans throughout the game, with Vazquez stating, "We can only thank you for the atmosphere today." He assured supporters that Real Madrid would return stronger and continue working towards future goals as there is still much of the season left to play.