El Clasico proved to be a challenging occasion for Real Madrid, as they suffered a defeat to Barcelona for the third consecutive summer. This particular match was especially tough for Endrick Felipe, who found it difficult in his first appearance in this iconic fixture.
Despite Endrick’s struggles, both he and Real Madrid supporters have little reason to be concerned, according to Thibaut Courtois. Courtois emphasized that Endrick simply needs to ease the pressure he puts on himself when playing.
Speaking to Diario AS, Courtois drew a comparison between Endrick and another player he knows well, Eden Hazard, from their time together at Chelsea.
Courtois remarked, “He is not very tall, but he is very strong in his legs. He’s a bit like Eden when I met him at Chelsea – he also had strong legs. You can kick him and he’ll still stand. And he has a lot of strength in his shot. In training, I have seen him shoot hard. Above all, I think he has to calm down a little bit. I don’t know if he’s a little nervous, but he’s going to get better and better.”
Courtois’ comments suggest that while Endrick may have had a tough outing, his physical attributes and potential are impressive. His strong legs and powerful shot are qualities that can serve him well as he adjusts to the high expectations and pressures of playing for Real Madrid.
Courtois also echoed the sentiments of Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, regarding the importance of pre-season matches like El Clasico.
He noted that the outcome and performance in these games have little bearing on the season ahead. Courtois explained, “These pre-seasons we play games that are interesting for the fans and for the public that goes to the stadium. In the end, the stadiums are full when Real Madrid plays. That we don’t like to lose against Barcelona is obvious. Even if it’s pre-season, you don’t want to lose.”
He continued, “But in the end, when it counts is during the season and as Carvajal said last season, when it comes down to it, we’ll see. It was a mixed match mixing young people with people with experience in the first team, both us and them. It’s just that.”
These remarks highlight the broader perspective that Courtois and the Real Madrid team maintain. Pre-season matches, while exciting for fans and valuable for player experience, do not determine the success of the competitive season. The real test comes when the official matches begin, and the team has to perform consistently through out the season.
