Courtois hails late Real Madrid hero Espi and hits back at Espanyol criticism

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois described young forward Carlos Espi as a “beast” after his late goal secured a 2-1 victory over Espanyol in the second round of La Liga on Saturday.

Espi came off the bench in the 80th minute and scored the winning goal in the 90th minute, completing a decisive contribution for the Spanish champions.

Courtois also criticised what he considered unfair treatment of his team-mate Vinicius Junior during the match, arguing that Espanyol player Cala should have been sent off.

Speaking to reporters after the game, the Belgium international said Cala ought to have been shown a red card earlier for two separate incidents.

“Cala should have been sent off early, either for his kick on Vinicius Junior or for his challenge on Carreras, when he was already carrying a yellow card,” said Courtois.

The goalkeeper then directed a strong message towards Espanyol, accusing the club of judging the incidents from only one perspective.

“As for Espanyol, you should look at yourselves in the mirror first before talking about other people. It is very easy to judge things when you look at them from only one side,” he added.

Courtois was particularly impressed by Espi’s impact after being introduced from the substitutes’ bench. The forward’s late intervention gave Real Madrid all three points and underlined the value of players who make a difference after coming on.

“He is a beast. Sometimes I see him getting into battles with Konate and Rudiger during training. It is really impressive; we are very happy for him,” said Courtois.

“The impact of a player coming off the bench can be just as strong as the impact of players who start the match.”

The goalkeeper also joked about the striker’s role as a substitute by comparing him with former Real Madrid forward Joselu, who was known for making important contributions after coming on.

“I call him Joselu Junior,” Courtois said.

Espi’s goal proved decisive in a match Real Madrid won 2-1, with the forward finding the net in the final minute of normal time after entering the contest with 10 minutes remaining.

Courtois’s comments combined praise for the teenager with criticism of Espanyol’s handling of the challenges involving Vinicius. His remarks focused on both the late match-winner and the disciplinary decisions surrounding Cala.

The Belgium goalkeeper said his team were delighted with Espi’s performance and suggested that his influence from the bench can carry the same importance as that of the players selected in the starting line-up.