Courtois Interview with Chelsea

Chelsea supporters watching our Champions League semi-final second leg with Atletico Madrid in April will have been struck by a unique situation. Onto the Stamford Bridge turf came not one, but two Chelsea goalkeepers.

With Petr Cech injured it was Mark Schwarzer lining up for the Blues between the posts. Atletico, our visitors that mild Spring evening, had Thibaut Courtois in goal, playing against his parent club.

When the Belgian got into position at the beginning of each half, he was warmly welcomed by those behind the Matthew Harding and Shed End goals. As we begin our interview it is quickly apparent the 22-year-old can't wait to meet his new supporters.

‘It was so nice to see that the Chelsea supporters appreciated my talent and my work at Atletico,’ says Courtois. ‘To see them clapping me was quite special and hopefully now I can give them joy by helping the team win games and trophies.

‘That night was a really good experience, but obviously I was playing for the other side at Stamford Bridge so it was a little bit weird. Now I’m just looking forward to playing a game at Stamford Bridge in the Chelsea colours.’

With the game and the tie against Atletico delicately poised at 1-1, Courtois produced what Jose Mourinho would describe afterwards as an ‘impossible save’, thwarting John Terry. The game had swung in Atletico’s favour.

Courtois donned his Chelsea training kit for the first time this morning (Thursday), working under the guidance of goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon.

‘It was a very nice session,’ he says. ‘It was great to work with him. He has so much variation in his exercises to help us become better and to make us think very fast.

‘I think I’m an all-round goalkeeper but I know I can improve at everything. I am only 22 years old. I’m still young and I’m here to learn a lot off Christophe Lollichon, Petr Cech and Mark Schwarzer.

‘I just have to work hard and prove myself in training. We have to train hard and work hard together as one team. All I can do is play well and then hope the manager chooses me. It’s the same as for everyone.’

Few 22-year-old players’ CVs can look as impressive as Courtois’ does right now. The Belgian has won the Europa League, the Super Cup, the Copa del Rey (voted man of the match after Atletico defeated city rivals Real, managed by Jose Mourinho) and, most impressively, last season’s La Liga. He was barely a couple of minutes from lifting the Champions League trophy, too, denied at the death by Real in May.

Courtois quite rightly reflects on his time in Spain with fondness. But, as he does so, he can’t help but look forward to what lies ahead at Chelsea.

‘At Atletico we were a team growing and growing and growing,’ he considers. ‘I think Chelsea are similar.

‘We have lots of young players and new players that want to develop themselves to become even better players and to win trophies with this club. I think that is possible.

‘Chelsea as a club always has the ambition to win as many trophies as possible. Chelsea has a team to be champions in England, to win cups and also to play in the final of the Champions League and win it again.

‘Obviously there are a lot of good teams both in the Premier League and the Champions League, but I think we should be able to go very far in every competition.’

Courtois’ confidence in mind is matched by his confidence in play. Anybody who saw the two-metre tall goalkeeper’s performances for Atletico and Belgium could not have missed his authority on the pitch.

It is true that not much fazes him but, for now, he knows there is a job to do. After all, you don’t reach the heights he has already scaled, at the age of 22, without an inner will to keep bettering yourself.

‘I signed three years ago so now I am happy to actually be here, to be a part of this club,’ he stresses.

‘My new team-mates have been really great; they’ve welcomed me and you really feel that you are a part of this team. Obviously it helped me that I knew some of the players before I arrived.

‘When I signed here I had played for just one year in the Belgian league. I wasn’t anybody. In the last three years, I have been able to improve myself a lot and make my name in the football world.

‘Now it is up to me to keep working hard here at Chelsea, keep improving myself and helping the team to achieve the things we all want.’

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