Thibaut Courtois breaks Real Madrid silence after derby defeat

Real Madrid players declined to speak to the media after their 2-1 defeat by Atletico de Madrid in the Madrid derby, amid strong anger within the squad over the match officials’ decisions.

The club’s players were kept away from post-match interviews after the loss at the Metropolitano Stadium, with Spanish media reporting that Real Madrid wanted to avoid emotional comments about the referee and the video assistant referee (VAR) team.

There was concern that criticism made in the immediate aftermath of the game could lead to possible sanctions. Tension inside the Real Madrid dressing room was clear after the final whistle as the team left the Wanda Metropolitano frustrated by the outcome and the officiating.

Thibaut Courtois was the only player to publicly address the defeat, posting several photographs from the match on Instagram.

“We feel frustrated after losing the derby, but there is still a lot for us to improve,” Courtois wrote. “We have to put things right so that we do not lose any more points. Hala Madrid.”

The Belgium goalkeeper did not directly refer to the refereeing incidents that had angered Real Madrid’s players. Instead, his message focused on the disappointment of losing the match and the need for the team to improve quickly.

Real Madrid’s decision to keep the squad away from media duties was intended to prevent further controversy and avoid reactions that could intensify the situation or expose the club to additional disciplinary action.