Courtois spoke after the friendly victory over Schalke 04.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois spoke after his side’s 3-0 friendly victory over Schalke 04, expressing satisfaction with his return to action and confidence ahead of the new season.

Thibaut Courtois continues to make encouraging progress. The Belgian goalkeeper played the entire first half of Real Madrid’s final pre-season friendly against Schalke 04 and helped José Mourinho’s team keep a clean sheet before being replaced at the break.

The match was particularly important for Courtois, who had been dealing with physical discomfort since the World Cup. The 34-year-old was forced to leave Belgium’s final match of the tournament because of pain, raising some concerns about his fitness ahead of the new campaign. However, after several weeks of recovery and individual preparation, the Real Madrid goalkeeper now considers himself fully fit.

Speaking to Real Madrid TV after the victory, Courtois explained the work he had done during his holidays to ensure he returned in the best possible condition.

“I feel very good. I did a lot of strength training during my holidays to be in shape. I came back a few days earlier because I felt I needed to do some individual work to be ready. Today I tested myself and everything went well,” he explained.

Courtois satisfied with Real Madrid’s performance

Beyond his personal fitness, Courtois was also pleased with the overall performance of the team against Schalke. Real Madrid secured a comfortable 3-0 victory and produced another encouraging display before the beginning of competitive action.

“Today was our final test before the season starts, and it was important to play a good game. I think we did that. We were solid defensively, created a lot of chances and played good football. Physically, everyone looks very good,” Courtois said.

The Belgian’s comments reflect the positive atmosphere surrounding Mourinho’s squad following pre-season. Several players have gradually returned after the World Cup, while the club’s new signings have also started adapting to their new environment.

“Everyone wants to have a great season”

Courtois also highlighted the motivation inside the dressing room. After a demanding summer, the goalkeeper believes the squad is eager to compete for trophies.

🗣️ Thibaut Courtois: "El equipo está muy bien y entrenando SERIAMENTE.

Todo el mundo quiere una gran temporada y veo mucha entrega.

Mourinho quiere que estemos concentrados en cada SEGUNDO del partido y en cada momento."

ESTAMOS DE VUELTA 😍 pic.twitter.com/UeeAnvotCT

— (fan) REAL MADRID FANS 🤍 (@AdriRM33) August 16, 2026

“There is a lot of desire. After the World Cup, we returned little by little, but the team is very motivated. Everyone wants to have a great season. I see a lot of commitment and a lot of desire to get started,” he added.

The goalkeeper finally revealed one of Mourinho’s main demands since taking charge of the team: maximum concentration throughout every match.

“He wants a lot of concentration at every moment of the game — on corners, free kicks, every second of the match — while playing well and taking everything seriously,” Courtois concluded.

With Courtois back at full fitness and the team finishing pre-season with a convincing victory, Real Madrid can now turn its attention toward the start of the competitive campaign.