The Belgian Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois revealed that Yamal’s pre-Clásico words were something that added fuel to Los Blancos’ fire, making them go for the win against Barça at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Madrid came to the match with a dark cloud over them after a season in which they had been beaten four times by their arch-rivals and finished trophyless while Barça took home a historic domestic treble. Before October’s match, 17-year-old Yamal made a joke that was quite controversial: “They steal, they complain,” which quickly went around and made the Madrid dressing room angry.
Once Real Madrid had secured their win, captain Dani Carvajal confronted Yamal, and Courtois also attempted to calm the situation as emotions rose. The Belgian, speaking to El Partizado de COPE, revealed that the teenager’s words had already done their damage.
“The way Lamine Yamal talked was such that it fired up the match a bit,” said Courtois. “It is true that the press made a lot of noise about it, but it also motivated us.”
Courtois explained that Madrid needed the kind of motivation that comes from a rivalry after the difficulties of last season.
“We sometimes need this kind of motivation. Barca is a foe and we have to stand up to them. When they were winning, they didn’t respect us either.”
Madrid, with 31 points, are the best team in La Liga going into their match at Elche on November 23.
