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• Thu Apr 17 2025

Thibaut Courtois appeared to criticise his Real Madrid teammates and coach Carlo Ancelotti after their Champions League exit

The reigning champions lost 5-1 on aggregate, and their hopes of a comeback in the second leg were dashed

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior failed to turn up in both legs, and their team struggled to score as a result

Thibaut Courtois has appeared to hit out at his teammates after Arsenal knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League.

Real Madrid's Champions League journey ended after losing to Arsenal in both legs in the quarter-final. Photos by Angel Martinez and David Ramos.

Source: Getty Images

What did Courtois say about Real Madrid teammates?

Real Madrid went into the second leg 3-0 down and were hoping for a massive comeback, but it wasn't to be. The Gunners produced another solid performance to win 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu and 5-1 on aggregate.

Real Madrid dominated the ball but failed to create clear-cut chances to score. Their run of four straight semi-final appearances is finally over.

The Gunners will meet Paris Saint-Germain, who eliminated Premier League side Aston Villa. Courtois saved Bukayo Saka's penalty in the first half and saved his team many times over the two legs. He wasn't happy with his side's attack.

"We weren't successful up front, I don't think (David) Raya had to make a single great save. We lost against a superior Arsenal and we have to accept it," he told Spanish media via The Mirror.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior failed to impress. Their only goal in the tie was from an error. The Belgian goalkeeper also aimed a subtle dig at Carlo Ancelotti, who has come under pressure this season.

"In the end, they're a team that defends well, is well organised, presses well, and it's difficult to find space. We put in a lot of crosses, but this year we don't have Joselu, a natural striker up front," he said. "Thinking about a comeback was great, and I hope we can bring them some joy this season."

Real Madrid have won two of the last three Champions League crowns, but there will be a new champion this season.

Thibaut Courtois was the only Real Madrid player who did well against Arsenal despite conceding five goals. Photo by Angel Martinez.

Source: Getty Images

The Gunners have now qualified for the semi-finals for the first time since 2009.

How Arsenal took Real Madrid down

Real Madrid were second-best in the quarter-final. Mikel Arteta's side produced a solid performance, limiting the defending Champions to just one goal and a handful of chances.

In the first leg, the Gunners thrashed the Spanish team thanks to Declan Rice's superb free-kicks and Mikel Merino's strike.

The 3-0 loss left them with a mountain to climb in the second leg, and it was evident in the first few minutes that they would need a special performance.

Arsenal defended resolutely and stifled a disjointed Real Madrid attack. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring before Vinicius Junior equalised. Gabriel Martinelli scored the winner late in the game to secure the win.

They will face a difficult test against PSG, but they have shown they belong with the big boys in Europe.

Why Real Madrid were denied penalty

In a related story, Real Madrid were denied a penalty against Arsenal following a lengthy VAR check in the first half.

The referee pointed to the spot after Kylian Mbappe went down following an apparent foul by Decelan Rice following a cross.

The VAR check took more than four minutes, and then an on-field review was conducted before it was chalked off because no foul was committed.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke