The injury to Thibaut Courtois last August logically disrupted Real Madrid’s plans. The team in the Spanish capital had been quite calm for years knowing that this important position was extremely well covered by the Belgian, who is one of the world references. It was therefore necessary to urgently recruit to cover his long absence since there was no question of giving the keys to the truck to Andriy Lunin, and it was Kepa Arrizabalaga, the Chelsea goalkeeper, who was chosen. The Spaniard started quite well, but then showed some signs of weakness…
His match against Union Berlin on Tuesday evening was quite criticized in the Madrid newspapers, and it is unlikely to calm this debate which has existed for a while in Madrid: who should be the starting goalkeeper? It must be said that Kepa missed almost the entire month of November and the beginning of December due to a problem with his abductor, and it was therefore Lunin who had his chance. The Ukrainian responded, performing quite well in the six matches he was able to play, with some great interventions against Betis last weekend for example.
Should Lunin become number 1?
“He had his opportunity. We are very happy because he has proven to be a reliable goalkeeper”, explained Carlo Ancelotti about him after the match against Betis. In the eyes of the Italian coach, however, the Spaniard remains number 1, but journalists are starting to put pressure for a change in this hierarchy of goalkeepers with numerous articles in the newspapers or discussions in broadcasts. on television or radio. It must be said that it is difficult to prove them wrong, since Lunin has demonstrated to be excellent on his line and flawless, where Kepa does not always convey a feeling of security and serenity without fail.
A debate which was little expected, to the extent that Lunin had never been seen as a credible option for the number 1 position, whether by the Madrid staff, by the fans and even by the media. Recruited in 2018, he had a series of relatively unsuccessful loans, even going so far as to play in D2, before remaining in the first team squad from the 2020/2021 season. There was even a sort of disappointment about him, since he was being sold as one of the future great guardians of the planet, something he had failed to show until now. At the age of 24, he is finally beginning to justify this former status. But, whatever happens, Courtois will take his place again…
