Real Madrid’s Ukrainian goalkeeper, decisive in the Martínez Valero, passes the difficult exam to replace the loss of Courtois
If nothing goes wrong at the last minute, Thibaut Courtois defends Real Madrid’s goal against Sevilla again in the Santiago Bernabeu. After missing out on the Whites’ last six games due to sciatica, the recent Yashin Trophy winner will retake the place between the posts Andriy Lunin brilliantly defended in his absence. In the background since signing for the club Chamartín in the summer of 2018, the Ukrainian goalkeeper has taken advantage of the Belgian goalkeeper’s recovery to show that the praise for his behavior and qualities that his teammates and the coaching staff always give him. gifts, more than just words.
“He has fulfilled his role. When Courtois is not there, he has shown that he is ready, prepared and a great goalkeeper. Every game is better and he is building more experience, that is what he is missing. He is very young and has quality. He just lacks experience”, summarized Carlo Ancelotti after the good performance of the Krasnograd goalkeeper at the Martínez Valero, where he helped the leader of the First Division to the three points with two decisive interventions, still 0-1 on the scoreboard, who served to prevent Elche from levelling, especially after a scoreless shot by Carlos Clerc that immediately earned Courtois credit. “Great Luninnnnn,” the former Chelsea player wrote on his social networks, accompanying his words with the flame emoticon to declare his partner’s ‘on fire’ in the venue in Elche.
It was the sixth game in a row as a starter for a keeper who had only played five times to defend the Real Madrid goal until this season: one in the 2020-21 season, when he returned to Chamartín after two failed loans to Leganés. and Valladolid, and another prolific for Oviedo, and four more in the 2021-22 season, when the alirón brought in by the whites four days in advance allowed him to appear even on two league dates.
But the injury Courtois sustained in early October changed his status for the time being. It was his turn to take a step forward and show that Real Madrid’s dedication to signing him four years ago, when he was still unknown to the general public defending Zorya Luhansk’s colors, was on solid ground. pillars was based. Eighteen days after that unexpected performance against Osasuna, it can be said that Lunin passed the demanding rehabilitation with flying colors.
In the six games played, the Ukrainian conceded four goals and kept two clean sheets against Getafe and Elche, the first without giving in for Real Madrid in this competition. All this amid a delicate personal situation as a result of the war his country has been plunged into. Lunin, who helped coordinate humanitarian aid shipments to his compatriots, has managed to keep a cool head despite the drama in his homeland, displaying a mental strength that has also enabled him to banishment from the last two campaigns.
It is true that in the summer he meditated on leaving Real Madrid, looking for minutes to strengthen a career in which so far especially the U-20 World Cup he won with Ukraine in 2019 has shined, a tournament in which he also won the Golden Glove, but ultimately chose to remain in the Spanish capital to ensure the stability of his family in these uncertain times for Ukrainians. Now, and despite being aware that his role will remain that of Courtois’ bodyguard, he has used the moment to justify himself. “I’m in the best club in the world. My whole family and I are very happy and I enjoy every day,” said the discreet and shy goalkeeper at the Martínez Valero.
Source: La Verdad
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