Courtois: "We don't have a set rotation policy in place for the goalkeepers"
The Real Madrid keeper told HLN: "It's for the coach to decide who plays. He makes the decisions but nothing has been agreed. There is no fixed rotation system".
When Thibaut Courtois arrived in August, many wondered where that would leave Real Madrid's then first choice goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Julen Lopetegui has been using both players in LaLiga and it was the Costa Rican who was between the sticks in the Champions League MatchDay 1 game against Roma last week. He elaborated on the situation yesterday and said nothing is set in stone: "Handling the goalkeeper issue is very simple as we are fortunate to have very good options for the position and the excellent attitude of the professionals involved".
Both keepers getting playing time
This evening against Sevilla, Lopetegui must decide whether to start with Navas or Courtois. The Belgian keeper explained that there are no strict rules in place as to who plays and when. "It's for the coach to decide who plays. He makes the decisions but nothing has been agreed. There is no fixed rotation system in place or anything like that, and we have only played one Champions League game so far", Courtois told HLN. “I am just concentrating on doing the best I can in training to show that I am always ready to play. For the coach and for the team, obviously it's a great situation to be in. Competition for a place in the team is always healthy and I have no problems at all with that".
Madrid derby coming up
Lopetegui plans to keep rotating Courtois and Keylor until Christmas to keep the two goalkeepers match fit. Later though, when the season enters its decisive phase, he will have to choose one or the other to guard the net until the campaign reaches its climax. Courtois started last weekend against Espanyol and Madrid are guests at the Sánchez Pizjuán tonight. It will be interesting to see who takes to the pitch in Seville and on Saturday at the Bernabéu against Atlético de Madrid - Courtois' old club...
