Thibaut Courtois featured alongside Ancelotti at the pre-match press conference prior to the Champions League group stage matchday three fixture against Borussia Dortmund. The Real Madrid goalkeeper said: “I feel great, I'm happy because I was able to play the other day. The important thing is to be together as a team, to work hard for each other and to give our all. In this new Champions League format the game tomorrow is very important, especially after losing against Lille. We have to win tomorrow”.

What do you think your opponents' impressions of you are?
“I have a great friendship with Borja Iglesias. He tells me in a lot of matches. The other day, after Stuttgart, he sent me a video and said: ‘You're a pain in the neck. In the end, I try to do my job, try to help the team in moments like that and try to keep a clean sheet and then we can score a goal. I always try to do the best job I can”.

Could the defensive issue have something to do with attitude or lack of motivation?
“Everyone's attitude is at its best. All 11 of us out on the pitch try to defend and the opposition try to cause you problems, move you out of position and then put the ball in behind your back. I think sometimes it's about communicating when to press and how, and all 11 of us have to do it together. If one comes out early and the other doesn't follow, it creates gaps and nowadays a lot of teams can punish you. That's what we're trying to put right in training. We may not have done so well the other day, but that's why we have the video analysis with the coach to correct it".

‘From a physical point of view, it's not easy after a very long season for some players, who only have two or three weeks off. Teammates like Valverde or Rodrygo, who come from South America, playing another game two days later isn't easy to keep up that intensity. We'll get there and that's why it's important to keep winning games to be in good shape for the end of the season”.

Simeone's words after the derby
“I respect his opinion but I don't share it. We have different ideas about what provocation is, but the institutions and organisations that make the decisions have already decided and I don't want to comment any further on that”.
Possible strengthening of the defence
“I'm very confident in the team, in the teammates we have and then if the club decides that we need a reinforcement, it's their decision, but it's not something the players get involved in. We have enough to do to prepare and win the games and it's up to others to decide about that”.

Were you disappointed with anyone after what happened at the Metropolitano?
“I'm not going to comment any more on the subject. Everything has already been said. I'm concentrating on tomorrow's game”.

Do ultras have a place in football?
“The most important thing is that there's no violence. I've experienced a lot of situations like that in Belgium. There's even more of a culture of that. I don't have a problem with those who cheer for their team and create a bit of rivalry. The derbies, the heated matches when we go to play away, I like them, the adrenaline kicks in more. I like to play a match where there's a big atmosphere, a lot of chanting, but always with respect for those who are playing and there can't be any violence. Sometimes there's a bit of a game between a player and a fan. That's normal. I don't have a problem with people chanting at me but then if we score a goal there might be a small reaction and I don't think there's any need for violence. I don't see a problem if there's no violence, but above all, we have to get rid of those who want to cause harm”.

Mental process in one-on-ones
“It's a technical thing where I try to make myself as big as possible, to read what a forward wants to do and play with the tempo. The other day the forward had a lot more time because he burst out from midfield and had a lot of time to think. That's when you have to try to make him hesitate. I'm two metres tall and if I throw myself with my arms and legs open there's not much space, but it doesn't always work. It's a technique that I have quite a lot of control over and it comes in handy in those moments”.

What do you think the team is lacking?
“There's been a change. Some players have left and new ones have arrived. It can sometimes take a bit of time to adapt and find new patterns. It's not something you create in a month or two, but we can do it in training sessions and matches. It's getting better and it's not as bad as you make it out to be. At times we lack a bit of clarity in our passing or our vision, but it's something that the players talk about and we're trying to improve it. You can only do that by training and that's what we're trying to do”.

Relationship with Lunin
“I try to help him. He also helps you to be better in training and to show why I have to play and not him. Competition always makes you better and then I try to help, not only him but also Fran and the goalkeepers who can come up. I try to share my advice with them. I understand that isn't easy when you've played so many games last season. He's a great goalkeeper and I'm sure he'll continue to help us”.