Thibaut Courtois confirms the teenager’s pre-match comments ignited an angry—but motivating—response inside the Los Blancos dressing room.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has disclosed the extent of the impact that Lamine Yamal’s pre-Clásico taunts had on the Real Madrid squad, revealing that the young Barcelona star’s comments actually provided the necessary motivation for Los Blancos to secure victory in the highly anticipated fixture.
The comments in question came after a disastrous previous season for Madrid, who lost all four meetings against their rivals and watched Barcelona claim a historic domestic treble.
In the build-up to last month’s clash at the Santiago Bernabéu, Yamal publicly joked about Madrid’s reputation, stating: “They steal, they complain.”
The Spark That Ignited Real Madrid’s Response
Yamal found himself directly at the center of Madrid’s ire during and immediately after the final whistle. The teenager was angrily confronted by captain Dani Carvajal, who made clear gestures indicating that Yamal should stop talking.
Courtois himself also rushed over to participate in the heated post-game exchange.
The veteran goalkeeper has now confirmed that, while the confrontation was part of the high-tension environment, Yamal’s words had already served their purpose in motivating Xabi Alonso’s team to victory.
Speaking to El Partizado de COPE, Courtois explained:
“Lamine Yamal spoke in a certain way and lit a bit of a fire under the match, and of course the press took advantage of the topic.”
Courtois admitted that he ran over to join the post-match scuffle because of the comments. “I saw that he was talking with Carvajal, and of course if you start saying something, I’ll say something too. But as I said before, we’re in an atmosphere of high tension and adrenaline, and sometimes you say things that weren’t necessary afterward.”
The revelation confirms that Yamal’s attempt to needle their rivals ended up inadvertently becoming the emotional spark that pushed Real Madrid to avenge their previous Clásico defeats.
