Real Sociedad midfielder Markel Bergara says that Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is among the top three in the world.
The 27-year-old admitted he was “a little sad” after losing to Atleti on Sunday, but acknowledged the part on-loan Chelsea stopper Courtois had played in helping his side to a 2-1 victory.
“We all went home a little sad because we thought we had played well enough to have got at least a point, but it wasn’t to be,” he told a Press conference.
“However, we must be aware we were playing against an opponent that is going through a purple patch, one that apart from the technical aspect works very hard and is difficult to play against.
“Atleti are comfortable when they don’t have the ball and it’s hard to create chances, but when you do they still have Courtois.
“He made two fantastic stops and it was a shame for us as we’d have been happy with a draw. He is only 21 yet has had three years at the top level and is one of the three best goalkeepers in the world.
“For one thing he is always there. In another game it would have been a goal,” said Bergara, in reference to a Courtois save from Esteban Granero.
Nonetheless, the Basque-born player says he is pleased with how the season has gone so far for the San Sebastian club.
“If you had told us in the summer we would have started this way then we would have gone for that.
“We’ve won three out of five games and have qualified for the Champions League, so I think looking at it then it has been very positive.
“The forthcoming international break will now come in handy and it will be good for the legs before our next game away to Levante,” he added.
