Real Madrid defeated Inter Milan 2-1 in the opening match of the Champions League group stage. T. Courtois spoke with TNT Sports Mexico after the match.

Thibaut, thank you for your time and as always for your cooperation. How did you analyze this match? Your game reading is always excellent. You took advantage of Inter's mistakes, but you also had to play a difficult game.

Yes, but ultimately we have to respect Inter Milan. They have won Serie A multiple times in recent years, and of course Napoli as well. What I mean is Inter Milan has always gone far in recent years and it's the same in the Champions League. Two years ago they reached the final, and last year they went far as well, just a bit unlucky. They are always a difficult team to face and they play very well.

I think we didn't play well in the first 10 to 15 minutes, but we took advantage of their mistakes to score. After that they created many chances, but we scored a second goal by capitalizing on another mistake of theirs. I think what we lacked after that was to close out the game earlier. Before halftime Gyökeres had a chance. In the second half we improved our performance.

Despite that, the match was very open with both sides attacking constantly. Sometimes we needed to slow down and control the game again by keeping possession for a while, because today the game was moving quickly from one end to the other. If such attacks can be converted into goals in the end, that's great, but if not, the opponent can come back quickly.

With Inter Milan's goal you could feel it might happen, but ultimately we kept the score. So starting the Champions League with a win like this is very important for us.

Lautaro's challenge on you was quite heavy. I don't think he intended to do it. Are you okay now?

Yes, I'm fine. Of course I had to come out for the ball. I think he was trying to jump, so his elbow came up a bit and hit my neck. But it's nothing. These things happen in football.

First of all, our commentator Pepe del Bosque said: "T. Courtois is an excellent goalkeeper. He is making history. For us, he is the best goalkeeper in the world." Do you feel the same way yourself? You always seem to perform well and stay in great form, even after injuries you come back as if you never left. What condition do you think you're in right now?

Thank you for saying that. Ultimately, I always try my best to help the team. I always remember when I had my ACL injury three years ago. At that time many people might have wondered if I could return to my previous level given my age.

But I feel that now I'm better than before, and I've trained hard for that. Of course you don't get the chance to be the focal point in every game. At a team like Real Madrid, sometimes the goalkeeper doesn't have much to do.

But in a game like today, when you can help the team win, I feel very happy. My childhood dream was to play in the Champions League at the Bernabéu, to play games like today. So I will try to extend my playing career as long as possible.

If I look at Neuer, he is also a legendary goalkeeper and he still maintains that level at age 40. For me, if one day I could stay at Real Madrid at that age, that would definitely be a dream. But I will take it year by year, try to take care of my body well, and hope to maintain my current form.

As for whether I'm the best goalkeeper in the world or not, I don't know. Ultimately, there are many excellent goalkeepers now, and anyone can perform better in certain periods or make more crucial saves. What I want to do is help the team. If someone thinks I'm the best in the world, that's great. If not, that's fine too.

One last question because this surprised me, and you've been with Real Madrid for a long time. During today's match, even though it was only a small group of fans booing, did you understand the situation? Because it surprised me and I really don't understand it because it was just the first Champions League match.

Ultimately, we lost our last match and couldn't score. Today I think we missed quite a few chances again, so I think the fans may have had that reaction at that moment. But ultimately, you have to understand them. This is the demand at Real Madrid, and these demands are what make Real Madrid great.

We haven't won a major trophy in two years. They want titles and we want them too, so they have the right to express their opinion. But at the same time, I think at many moments during this match they also supported the team. The next step is we need to keep improving. On Saturday we have another home game against Rayo Vallecano and we have to try to win and maintain our competitive position in the league. Then we move forward step by step.

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