The highly anticipated clash between Real Madrid and Arsenal may have ended with a thrilling spectacle for fans, but goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois expressed his disappointment with his team’s approach. Courtois analysed the match strategy employed by Real Madrid and highlighted areas that needed improvement.
Courtois’ Tactical Concerns
After the match, Thibaut Courtois did not hold back in expressing his thoughts about the tactical execution. He pointed out that Real Madrid relied too heavily on crosses, a strategy that played into Arsenal’s strengths given their taller defensive players. “We crossed too much,” Courtois commented, indicating that the approach was predictable and largely ineffective against a well-organised Arsenal defence.
Courtois further emphasised the need for more diversified attacking strategies, focusing on building plays collaboratively rather than defaulting to crossing the ball into the box. He stated, “We should create more collective plays,” highlighting a need to utilise more intricate passing combinations to break down Arsenal’s defensive setup.
Height Disadvantage
Courtois also addressed the lack of a commanding aerial presence in the team, drawing a comparison with players like Joselu who thrive in aerial battles. “Arsenal have tall players, and we don’t have a Joselu,” he remarked, pointing out the physical mismatch that made aerial plays less effective【4:1†source】.
Arsenal’s Stalwart Defence
While Real Madrid struggled to break through, Arsenal’s defence earned praise for its robust performance. Arsenal’s defenders, including standout performances from [Gabriel Magalhães](https://deportescollective.com/category/football/english-premier-league/arsenal/), proved to be a wall too high for Madrid’s attacking attempts to surmount. Their ability to neutralise the cross-heavy strategy effectively shut down Real Madrid’s primary attacking outlet.
Statistical Snapshot
In terms of statistics, Real Madrid managed a significant number of crosses throughout the game but failed to convert them into goals. This underlined Courtois’ point that alternative tactics might have yielded better results:
- Total Crosses: Over 15
- Successful Crosses: Under 5
- Shots on Target: 8
- Possession: 58%
Way Forward for Real Madrid
This match highlighted crucial areas for Real Madrid to work on as they prepare for upcoming fixtures in the La Liga and UEFA Champions League. Embracing a more versatile attacking strategy could be key in overcoming defences like Arsenal’s in the future.
With this analysis from Courtois, Real Madrid has the opportunity to reflect and adjust their tactics, incorporating more movement off the ball and spacing to create opportunities through the centre, rather than from wide areas alone.
As Real Madrid looks to refine their approach, fans will be watching closely to see if Courtois’ insights will translate into tactical adjustments under [Carlo Ancelotti](https://deportescollective.com/category/football/la-liga/real-madrid/) as they continue their campaign for silverware.
