Vazquez and Courtois react after Real Madrid 5-2 Dortmund – ‘We need to improve’ | OneFootball

Lucas Vazquez played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s remarkable comeback against Borussia Dortmund, scoring their third goal to help overturn a 0-2 deficit.

Speaking after the game, he took the opportunity to praise his teammate Vinicius Junior, whose hat-trick showcased his immense talent.

According to Vazquez, Vinicius’ performance this season has been decisive, and his display against Dortmund proves that he is among the best players in the world. The team is thrilled to have him contributing at such a high level.

“Vinicius had a brutal season in which he was a decisive player and today he has shown that he is the best player in the world. We are very happy to be able to enjoy him,” he said.

Half-time team talk

Lucas Vazquez explained Real Madrid’s frustration. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

The match was a tale of two halves for Real Madrid. They entered halftime trailing by two goals, and the frustration in the dressing room was palpable.

Vazquez revealed that the players were unhappy with their first-half performance, acknowledging that they hadn’t been giving the effort necessary to win in a competition as demanding as the Champions League.

Carlo Ancelotti’s halftime team talk clearly had an impact, motivating the players to raise their game.

“We went into the match angry because of what we saw in the first half. None of us were happy, we looked at each other and said that this couldn’t continue like this because we weren’t giving what was necessary to win in the Champions League.”

“In the second half we saw a different Real Madrid that won duels, played with intensity and that’s how we scored five goals,” he noted.

Thibaut Courtois’ reaction

Meanwhile, Thibaut Courtois also weighed in on the performance, offering a critical view of the team’s first-half struggles.

He admitted that Real Madrid didn’t press effectively, allowing Dortmund to create too many chances.

“In the first half, we didn’t do well. We didn’t press well, they created too much danger for us. They scored two goals very quickly and they had other chances… we corrected things at half-time.”

Thibaut Courtois made an honest assessment. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Despite going two goals down, the team made important adjustments at halftime. Courtois emphasized that they knew if they could score the first goal in the second half, they had a strong chance of completing the comeback.

“We have to see where to improve. We reacted and we knew that if we scored the first goal we could win.

“In the second half, we pressed better, man to man, we played well, with the intensity that a Champions League match deserves and that’s where the difference lies,” said the keeper

Courtois also pointed out that Dortmund had opportunities to extend their lead in the first half, notably when Brandt unleashed a dangerous shot that Courtois managed to save.

“They play us too easily near the box. Brandt, who has a good shot, shot and I made a good save, but it could have gone into the top corner and it was 0-3 at half-time.”

However, Courtois highlighted the need for the team to start matches with the same intensity they showed in the second half, ensuring they don’t always need a dramatic comeback to secure victory.

“We had to wake up and react, but they don’t always react. On Saturday we have to start like we did in the second half,” he concluded.

Source: Mundo Deportivo