We failed to follow Alonso's plan - Real Madrid star reflects on PSG humiliation

Thibaut Courtois spoke to the media after Real Madrid’s difficult Club World Cup semi-final loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

Luis Enrique’s men secured a 4-0 success over the LaLiga side after a brace from Fabian Ruiz, Ousmane Dembele and Goncalo Ramos saw the French side inflict a heavy defeat on Xabi Alonso’s men.

Speaking after the loss, Courtios admitted that Real Madrid struggled to execute their coach's plan, particularly in finding space up front against PSG's intense high press in the first half. 

The Belgian noted that his team failed to maintain their defensive shape, allowing PSG to create numerous dangerous opportunities and score two crucial early goals.

“They always start very strong and with a lot of pressure high up”, noted Courtois. “We failed to follow the coach's plan of looking for space up front. We struggled to hold our position and they found the free man very well.

“They created a lot of danger, especially in the first half. In the second half, they stopped pressing and we had more chances, but we didn't score. The first two goals killed off the game a bit and they were comfortable."

Despite the tough defeat, Courtois sees it as a valuable learning experience for the team, believing such setbacks can help them identify areas for improvement and motivate them to reach the level of top teams like PSG, who recently won the Champions League.

“It's a tough defeat, but a defeat to learn from,” the goalkeeper continued. “We’re on the right path and sometimes a setback like this is good for you to keep improving, to know that there is a lot of work ahead and that we can get better.

“We have to reach their level, they have won the Champions League and they've been very good in this tournament. We have to work on next season.”

Real Madrid depart for the off-season after their Club World Cup disappointment. Los Blancos' first LaLiga fixture of the 2025-26 season pits them against Osasuna.