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Thibaut Courtois Warns Dortmund Ahead of Champions League Final
Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper, stated that they will need to play "at 200 percent" in the Champions League final at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund, in a match that he says many "think will be easy, but it’s not."
"I’m very happy to be part of Real Madrid’s history and to continue increasing its greatness. That’s why we hope to win another European Cup on Saturday against a tough opponent that people think will be an easy match, but it’s not. They've shown their strength by making it to the final," assured the Belgian goalkeeper.
Courtois reviewed the matches where he gradually regained his form after two knee injuries, aiming to reach the Champions League final as Carlo Ancelotti's favored starting goalkeeper.
"Going straight to playing, even though you can train on the field, practicing corners, and ball movement in space, it's not the same as in a match. The one-on-one save gave me confidence and it continued in Granada, especially against Alavés where I made many key saves and felt good," he added.
For Courtois, maintaining "calm" and not rushing his return was crucial during his long recovery process: "I kept calm these months to avoid rushing back, recovering 100 percent, and that’s why I can make those saves like against Betis now. You feel quick and just like always."
"I’m happy to be feeling 100 percent, training, and playing well, and to be part of the team on Saturday. I hope we can win after many months of feeling the support of my teammates and all Madridistas. It means a lot, it makes you feel stronger and part of the team to keep fighting. In an injury like this, the key is to stay happy and positive. You recover faster," he concluded.