“I’m ready to take Champions League final penalty for Real Madrid” – Courtois

Belgium international and Real Madrid shot-stopper, Thibaut Courtois has declared his preparedness to take a penalty if the 2022 Champions League final between his team and Liverpool ends in a nerve-shredding penalty shootout.

The Blancos goalkeeper who has stepped up to the spot before at Chelsea claims pressure would not faze him against Liverpool.

Also expressing concern about containing the threat posed by Liverpool as they head into the European encounter at Stade de France on Saturday, Courtois confidently said: “I remember in pre-season with Chelsea against PSG I scored one and in the Community Shield against Arsenal I missed one.

“(Antonio) Conte put me there because he knew I could shoot well, but obviously standing on the spot, in an important moment, is different.

“I wouldn’t be one of the first five (takers), for sure, but maybe after, if you need to shoot, you have to shoot. I don’t fear it. It’s a moment to shine.

“We won one (shootout) against Atletico Madrid in the Super Cup a few years ago when I saved one penalty. This season I have saved three.

“You study ahead. Against Chelsea we had two penalties and you study them, because you can see the similarities. Hopefully it will not come back to that but if it does, I will be ready.”