As the El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona approaches, Thibaut Courtois has expressed his desire not to start for Real Madrid in the highly anticipated match. He emphasized that he doesn’t feel he’s at the required level to begin a game of such magnitude. Courtois has voiced his preference for relying on another teammate or exploring different solutions, reflecting the immense pressure the team is facing due to the absence of key players.
The starting lineup is becoming increasingly complicated for Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, especially in defense, where the team is dealing with a string of injuries. Antonio Rudiger is still unavailable, and David Alaba sustained a new injury in the recent match against Getafe, raising doubts about his participation in El Clásico. These significant absences led Alonso to start Raúl Asensio against Juventus, but the player didn’t perform as expected,he appeared slow, weak, and erratic, despite his experience last season.
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While former coach Carlo Ancelotti had great confidence in Asensio last season, which contributed to his impressive performances and even earned him a call-up to the Spanish national team, Xabi Alonso’s arrival has dramatically shifted the situation. Alonso made it clear from the outset that he did not see Asensio as a first-choice option, relegating him to only playing in critical situations.
Meanwhile, Courtois is hoping that Dean Huijsen will recover in time to replace Asensio in defense alongside Éder Militao. Alonso agrees with the Belgian goalkeeper’s preference for Huijsen to start over Asensio in the Barcelona match. If Huijsen is unable to return in time, it will be a significant loss for Real Madrid, particularly in such a crucial encounter, as the team seeks a victory to maintain its lead and strengthen Alonso’s position as first-team coach.
