Thibaut Courtois didn’t stay quiet. After a draining season where Real Madrid played 65 matches and ended it with a Club World Cup semifinal loss to PSG, the goalkeeper took direct aim at La Liga’s decision to keep the team’s league debut locked in for August 19. The club had asked for a delay in the opening match against Osasuna. The answer was no. Courtois didn’t let it slide.
“I hope La Liga still changes the game, even if it means pushing it to the following week. The rest and preparation are important for a good competition and for the players’ health. He might not want the Club World Cup, but it exists. We’re here, and he should respect our rest and preparation. That man wants a lot of attention... I’ve never seen any president of any organization speak like that.”
Rest ignored, support ignored
Real Madrid closed out its year at the Club World Cup and asked for a few extra days before kicking off the next one. Osasuna backed the request. So did the Spanish Football Federation. Even the players’ union stepped in, warning that the league’s decision ignored the health of the athletes and could hurt the quality of the season ahead.
La Liga didn’t budge. Officials pointed to the rulebook, which doesn’t require a set recovery window between competitions. They also noted that Real’s opener was scheduled three days after the first matches of the round, which start on August 16. For Courtois, that’s not enough and it’s not just about the calendar.
“You can’t expect us to finish La Liga and call that a vacation, because we played the Club World Cup, something that’s part of the FIFA calendar. Nobody has a problem playing lots of matches. The problem is rest. And having just three weeks of rest to prepare for a 12-month season... that’s the issue. We’re the only sport in the world with 11 to 12 months of competition, and that’s the mistake.”
Courtois also didn’t hold back when it came to La Liga president Javier Tebas, who’s made it clear he doesn’t back the Club World Cup format. For the keeper, that opinion crossed into decision-making. He hinted that the refusal to reschedule was more about personal or political bias than anything technical.
Soccer asks for a break, the league steps on the gas
At the heart of this is the calendar. Courtois isn’t complaining about playing too many matches. He’s asking for more breathing room between them and that matters. Players know the demands of modern soccer: constant games, travel, media, back-to-back tournaments. They also know there’s only so far the body can go without recovery.
Last season pushed Real Madrid to its limit. Sixty-five games, with barely time to train or recover between trips. When the season finally wrapped, the expectation was at least a six-week break before starting over. Instead, they got 41 days. That includes time off, medicals, return to training, and preseason. In reality, it leaves about three weeks to reset physically.
La Liga’s choice to press ahead, ignoring the wear and tear, goes against what other leagues are starting to rethink. Some countries now allow flexibility when clubs return from international competitions. That’s not the case here.
Courtois’s statement isn’t just frustration. It’s an invitation. A sign that maybe it’s time for more players to speak up. The culture of staying quiet to keep the peace doesn’t make sense anymore. When constant fatigue becomes normal, decline is inevitable.