Courtois: “The first half is the blueprint to follow.”

Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, spoke in the mixed zone following the emphatic 4-0 victory over Malaga.

Real Madrid have wrapped up the month of August with a perfect record in La Liga. Against Malaga on Sunday, José Mourinho’s men did not need to push themselves to the limit to secure another convincing victory. Extremely clinical in the first half, Los Blancos scored with three of their four shots on target before eventually completing a comfortable 4-0 win.

After the final whistle, Thibaut Courtois reflected on the team’s performance, Mourinho’s instructions and the challenges that await Real Madrid in the coming weeks.

Starters and substitutes:
“The coach had already warned us on Wednesday that he was going to make several changes to the starting eleven. The players are training very well and many of them deserve opportunities to play. If we want to go far in every competition, it is important to be able to rely on everyone. We have a very strong squad and, when you look at the bench, there is an incredible amount of quality.”

Mourinho’s instructions:

“The first half was very good. We scored three goals, but it is true that during the final minutes before half-time we dropped too deep and allowed them to create a few chances. At half-time, the coach asked us to try to score more goals and, above all, not to concede.”

A drop in intensity:
“It is important to know how to manage a result, but in the second half we did not play as well. We still created chances, but our tempo on the ball dropped a little. We allowed them to have too much possession, and that is something we need to improve. We eventually scored the fourth goal, but we were missing that extra gear that would have allowed us to entertain the Bernabéu even more.”

A first half to build on:
“The first half is the example we need to follow. That is how we want to play: with intensity, control and immediate pressing after losing the ball. If we are able to do that in every game, then we can have a very good season. But for that to happen, everyone has to work for the full 90 minutes. We have to continue in the same way we played during the first half.”

🚨 Courtois : "Je pense que nous n'étions PAS SI BONS en 2eme mi-temps." ❌

"On a baissé le rythme, on leur a laissé beaucoup d'espace avec le ballon. Je pense qu'il faut AMÉLIORER ÇA."

"Nous devions accélérer le rythme en 2eme mi-temps pour que le Bernabéu apprécie, mais 4-0… pic.twitter.com/65p9nIs5kZ

— RMadrid actu 🇫🇷 (@RMadrid_actu) August 30, 2026

Another clean sheet:
“Keeping a clean sheet is important for the confidence of the entire team. The two goals we have conceded in La Liga could have been avoided, but we are learning from those situations. We need to keep working because a result like this, being 3-0 up at half-time, can sometimes be misleading.

“You can lower the intensity, concede one goal and suddenly the opposition starts believing again, which can make the game more difficult. That is exactly what the coach told us at half-time. Not conceding is therefore something very positive.”

The upcoming schedule:
“Now we have another difficult match coming up, and then the Champions League will begin. We are really looking forward to these next few weeks,” Courtois said, referring to the upcoming fixtures against Real Betis and Inter Milan.

Real Madrid therefore end August with maximum confidence, but Courtois’ words also underline Mourinho’s demanding mentality: despite another convincing victory, there is still room for improvement as the schedule becomes more challenging.