Real Madrid star warns team-mates to respect ‘strong’ Arsenal ahead of Champions League showdown | OneFootball

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois urged his team-mates to respect the strength of Arsenal ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first-leg at the Emirates Stadium.

Madrid are reigning champions of the competition but Courtois says Real face a huge task to defend their crown.

“We have a lot of respect for Arsenal,” he said ahead of the game.

“I have many friends who are fans. I know they’ve done very well in the Premier League.

“They have experienced players, and their defence is very strong. They’re also strong on the counter-attack, and from set pieces. They’re difficult to play against. We have a lot of respect for them.”

Courtois has been absent of late through injury, including for his side’s surprising 2-1 defeat at home to Valencia on Saturday.

But the Belgian shot-stopper says he is “100% fit” to play against Arsenal.

“How am I? At 100%,” he said.

“We’ll have to ask the coach if I’ll start, but I’m ready. I’ve been in the gym and on the pitch these days. I’m ready to play.”

The 32-year-old also gave his thoughts on the recent setback against Valencia despite not playing, and highlighted where his side must improve in order to bounce back.

“I don’t think we played badly against Valencia,” he said.

“We missed a penalty and then conceded, then they made it 2-1 in the final minute.

“From the inside, we feel like we’re doing well, but the results aren’t going our way. The team knows what it has to do, but the important thing is the results.

“In every game, we try to solve it in the first few minutes if possible. Maybe we can be physically better at the end, or we can bring in fresh players to make a difference.

“If we can win the game in the 60th minute, that would be better, but that doesn’t happen in football. It just happens.”