Reason why Ancelotti trusts Courtois over Lunin for the Champions League final – report | OneFootball

Manu de Juan, writing for AS, has revealed that Carlo Ancelotti is confident in his decision about who will be Real Madrid’s goalkeeper for the UEFA Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1.

Amidst the ongoing debate between Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin, the reporter states that Ancelotti is leaning towards the experienced Courtois, despite his recent return from a long injury layoff.

Ancelotti had already hinted that Courtois would be the starter at Wembley, and Lunin’s recent performance, where he conceded four goals against Villarreal, has reinforced this choice.

Ancelotti already has a lineup ready

Real Madrid’s lineup for the Champions League final is set. Ancelotti has made up his mind, though he has not publicly confirmed this to maintain a competitive edge in the squad with two weeks left before the final.

Ancelotti has, however, dropped hints in press conferences, stating, “Lunin has had a spectacular season and Courtois is returning to what he is, the best goalkeeper in the world.”

The decision is influenced by Courtois’s performances since his return from injuries. He has played three matches since coming back, and Madrid won all three, scoring 12 goals and conceding none.

Carlo Ancelotti will pick Thibaut Courtois in the UEFA Champions League final. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

His role became more prominent over these games: against Cadiz and Granada, he wasn’t tested much, but he performed well when needed.

The match against Alaves was a true test, where he faced ten shots and saved them all, including a crucial stop reminiscent of his save against Liverpool’s Sadio Mane in the 2022 final.

Lunin is good, but Courtois is better

While Lunin has been vital for Real Madrid at various points this season, especially in the Champions League, recent errors have hurt his chances of starting in the final.

However, his form has dipped recently: conceding a goal to Bernardo Silva in the first minute of a match against City, making mistakes in El Clasico against Barcelona, and letting in a goal from Leroy Sane in Munich.

In his latest opportunity against Villarreal, Lunin did not make any glaring mistakes, but Madrid still conceded four goals, adding to a total of nine goals in his last four games.

Given these factors, Ancelotti’s preference for Courtois is understandable. Despite his recent injury troubles, Courtois has proven he is back to top form, making crucial saves and maintaining clean sheets.

This, combined with Lunin’s recent struggles, makes Courtois the more reliable choice for the high-stakes final against Borussia Dortmund.