Real’s no.1 Courtois ‘fully fit’ ahead of Arsenal clash
The 32-year-old Belgian goalkeeper, who has missed Real Madrid’s last three matches due to injury, returned to full training and is expected to start in the high-stakes tie.
Thibaut Courtois has confirmed he is "fully fit" for Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal, set to take place on Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium.
The 32-year-old Belgian goalkeeper, who has missed Real Madrid's last three matches due to injury, returned to full training and is expected to start in the high-stakes tie.
Speaking at a press conference on 07 April, Courtois said: "I am fully fit and I feel good. It was not a big issue so I could train in the gym, and I've been on the pitch for the last day. I feel fine and 100 percent."
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His return will be a major boost for manager Carlo Ancelotti, who had to field 19-year-old Fran Gonzalez in Real Madrid's 2–1 defeat to Valencia at the weekend. The young goalkeeper was brought in after Courtois' usual back-up, Andriy Lunin, also picked up an injury.
Courtois, who previously played for Chelsea before moving to Spain in 2018, also spoke highly of Arsenal and the challenge they present.
"I have a lot of respect for Arsenal and a lot of friends who support them," he said. "I know they've been doing great and have come close to winning the Premier League. They play well, they have a young team with a nice blend of experience, and they defend well, press high, are solid in the low block, quick on the counter, and have players who can score easily."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described the tie against the 15-time European champions as the biggest match of his managerial career to date. Since taking over five years ago, Arteta has transformed Arsenal into title contenders, though the 2020 FA Cup remains his only silverware so far.
Ancelotti, however, was full of praise for the Spaniard's work at the club. "He's built a complete team," said the Italian. "There aren't many teams in Europe that I would call complete. There are teams that do certain things very well, but not many who do everything as well as Arsenal do. He's doing a fantastic job—near the top of the Premier League and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League."
