Thibaut Courtois seemed to focus a subtle excavation on Kylian Mbappe after Real Madrid was dumped by Arsenal from the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
Real went into the second stage of the quarterfinals that needed a wonderful comeback after losing 3-0 at the Emirates last week, and they never looked like pulling out when they were beaten 2-1 for their home fans while Arsenal sealed a 5-1 aggregated victory.
The Spanish giants quickly seemed to have no ideas anymore on Wednesday evening, with their only goal from a William Saliba error, while Vinicius JR took it before he threw in the unguarded just.
But apart from that, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya had a quiet night, and Courtois claimed after the game that Real missed that he had no 'natural striker' because he had controlled Joselu as a player who might have made a difference.
“Eventually they are a team that defends well, is well organized, is well done and it is difficult to find space,” said Courtois, giving Arsenal the honor.
“We have placed many crosses, but this year we don't have Joselu, a natural striker in front.”
Joselu came from the bank famous to score twice in the dying minutes of Real's dramatic Champions League Semi-final triumph over Bayern Munich last season.
But he was moved last summer, because Real chose to get Mbappe in on a free transfer from PSG to replace it.
Mbappe scored 32 goals in his first season in Spain, including seven in the Champions League, but he was stopped on both legs against Arsenal.
He still has to win the biggest prize of European club football, and Courtois seemed to suggest that his arrival might have spoken Real's Squad after they won Liga and the Champions League last year.
Real still chases two trophies, with the men of Carlo Ancelotti four points behind Barcelona in Laliga, while later this month they will also face their arch rivals in the Copa del Rey-final.
Real will also compete in the newly expanded club World Cup this summer, and Courtois insisted on his teammates to quickly bounce back from their European exit to greatly end the season.
“We must carefully analyze what we can do better,” he added. 'We have a lot of season for us, we have the competition on the line, the cup in ten days and then the Club World Cup.
“We thank the fans. Thinking of a comeback was great, and I hope we can bring them some joy this season. '