Thibaut Courtois speaks after an impressive start to Stamford Bridge life.
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has enjoyed a fine start to life in between the Chelsea sticks after he finally returned from three years on loan at Atletico Madrid this summer – and the Belgian number one has now spoken to the Guardian about life at Stamford Bridge so far.
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The most noticeable feature of Courtois’ interview is the level of praise that he lavished upon his manager, Jose Mourinho, with the Portuguese boss having put together a side that is now threatening to run away with the Premier League title and also looks well set for a serious tilt at the Champions League.
Courtois explained how Mourinho is able to instill a level of fight and determination into his sides that is now always there and how that will stand them in good stead for the season ahead:
“Working for him now, it is easy to see why his sides have that fighting mentality. He motivates you. If the coach on the sidelines is not that strong, transmitting the kind of spirit he has, players won’t always handle it well. Life becomes difficult.”
The Belgian also spoke about how Mourinho is able to change his attitude towards the players depending on the scenario, changing from one of the gang to being a more distant, even “severe” figure who is able to motivate his squad effectively:
“But, with Mourinho, everything is good. He knows when to be among his players, as ‘one of us’ making jokes as a friend, and when to be strong and distant, even severe. That’s how it has to be to get the team sharp.”