Courtois defends Xabi Alonso: his Real Madrid exit was unfair

Thibaut Courtois has spoken to Sky Sports and had kind words for Xabi Alonso, his former coach at Real Madrid and current Chelsea manager, a club where the Belgian played from 2011 to 2018. According to MARCA, the goalkeeper believes Alonso will do well at Stamford Bridge, although he considers his sacking from Madrid after 34 official matches unfair: in football, he says, the coach is usually the first to pay when results go wrong.

Courtois admits there was not always a good understanding between Alonso and some players, but says he got along well with many of them. On Chelsea, fifth in the Premier League after losing to Sunderland and missing a chance against Tottenham, he expects them to finish in the top four if the club gives the coach time. He also praised Jude Bellingham as a great guy, a good friend and an excellent player.

Mourinho, a bit calmer

The Belgian also looked back on his relationship with José Mourinho. He accidentally ignored the coach's first message for two weeks: they were at the World Cup, on a plane, with the time difference and no Wi-Fi. When Mourinho wrote again after a match, Courtois asked someone at the club whether that was the coach's number. Now, he says, everything is fine. He sees Mourinho as slightly less intense than 12 years ago at Chelsea, though his presence in a room is the same.

His future with Belgium

Finally, Courtois confirmed he will skip the Nations League with Belgium to rest after a long injury in March, being substituted against Spain at the World Cup and his father's wedding in September. If the national coach wants him back for the Euro qualifiers, he will return, but he will have to earn the number one spot again against Senne Lammens and the rest of the goalkeepers.