Tchouameni ‘opens’ the cards: I became a “sacrifice”, the stadium whistled at me every time I had the ball
football
Express newspaper
18/04/2026 18:40
Few environments are as ruthless as Real Madrid. Aurelien Tchouameni learned this the hard way.
In professional football, few clubs demand as much from their players as Real Madrid, and the fans are just as hard to please.
When performances are not up to par, the stadium audience can become very critical.
Tchouameni has experienced this firsthand.
“I became a ‘sacrifice’. In the first 10-20 minutes, the stadium was booing me every time I touched the ball. A situation like that either breaks you, or you tell yourself ‘that’s how it is’ and focus on what you can control. The only thing I can control is my performance. The pressure at Real Madrid is on a whole other level. People comment on everything you do, whether it’s good or bad,” he told The Pivot Podcast.
The Frenchman also remembers a period when he was heavily criticized.
“Everyone was talking about me, about my style of play. A year or two ago, I was considered a weak player and I was booed in the stadium – I’ve been through a lot and that helped me mentally. Today I know that people will always talk, no matter what I do, so I just ignore them. Playing for Real Madrid is the biggest stage in sport: the pressure is a privilege,” he added.
Tchouameni has quickly become a key figure for Madrid, securing a starting spot in Alvaro Arbeloa’s midfield.
The 26-year-old has played in 44 official matches this season, contributing two goals and two assists.
However, he suffered a blow in the Champions League, receiving a third yellow card in the first quarter-final against Bayern Munich and missing the decisive second leg.
Real was eliminated with an aggregate score of 4–6.
The 2025/26 season risks becoming the second in a row without a trophy for “Los Blancos”, as they are nine points behind Barcelona in La Liga and have already been eliminated from the Copa del Rey./Express newspaper/