Thibaut Courtois: Pelted with abuse, former Chelsea goalkeeper got the last laugh as Real Madrid ended Atletico’s title bid
If Thibaut Courtois had any doubt about how he would be received by former club Atltico Madrid in Saturdays derby, he didnt have to wait for kick-off to find out.Outside the Wanda Metropolitano, where every player to have participated in 100 games for the Colchoneros is honoured, the Belgians plaque was covered in the usual beer cans and cigarette butts, as well as additional graffiti calling him a ‘rat’ and in case he didnt quite get the message stuffed toy rats to boot.
3Thibaut Courtois’ plaque was defaced outside the Atletico stadiumAtletis ultras, who were first into the stadium long before the match started, booed their former hero intensely as he warmed up. The jeering would only amplify in the build-up to the opening whistle, and some Atleti fans even showered the end of the pitch Courtois was due to start at with more of their stuffed animal of choice.The big question was how he would respond to the treatment. Remember, Courtois was once the golden boy for the Rojiblancos, the hero between the sticks long before anyone in the Spanish capital had even heard of Jan Oblak. He helped them beat Real Madrid in a Copa del Rey final on Los Blancos home turf in 2013 with a typically outstanding display, then departed a year later, teary-eyed, after proving invaluable in their immense feat of beating Barcelona to a La Liga title.It is convenient for Rojiblancos fans to suggest otherwise, but its not true to say that Courtois did not hold affection for Atleti anyone who spoke to him while he played there knows the opposite is the case. It is also worth remembering that there was no chance of him ever being taken back by his old club when he decided to leave Chelsea last summer Oblak is one of the first names on the teamsheet in the red and white part of Madrid. With the game underway on Saturday afternoon, the home fans soon took to adapting the traditional oooh chant used to put off the opposition keeper with a special rendition for Courtois, completing the build up with ‘rat’ at the end. In case he forgot.Atleti started as they always do in big games: pressing high and intensely, keeping Madrid pinned back for 15 minutes. But then, as is also usually the case, they dropped deeper, and Los Blancos started to work the ball. Only a minute after that press loosened, Casemiro had the ball in the net thanks to an overhead kick, and the home team were staring into the abyss of the worst possible start.Soon after, Courtois had his first big moment of the game, and the outcome was not a good one for the shot-stopper. As Antoine Griezmann burst through to a one v one, the Belgian knew he had to try and stand the striker up, but the Frenchman read it all the way, sending the ball low and into the net, thereby taking advantage of the huge weakness Courtois has in being slow to get down to the ground. An agonizing three-minute wait for VAR to rule Griezmann as onside only heightened the huge tension in the air even further.
3Thibaut Courtois was heckled by Atletico Madrid fans throughout the Madrid derbyWhat would the Madrid keeper have been thinking at that point? Probably not about his infamous comments regarding the ideal height for a goalkeeper. The venomous celebrations from the Metropolitano crowd would have done plenty to centre his focus on the present.Thanks to a brilliant run from Vinicius, then perfect placement from Sergio Ramos with the subsequent penalty, Madrid soon went back in front once more, but Courtois wouldnt have to wait long once the second half was underway for his next key moment.That came in the 53rd minute, when the other big player to recently cross the Madrid divide burst through on goal. This time Courtois had to come off his line, but lvaro Morata read it, chipping the ball over the goalkeeper in what would have been an immense finish considering the stature of the man between the sticks. The top technique didnt matter though: VAR rightly ruled the goal to be illegal due to Morata starting offside, and Courtois breathed a sigh of relief.
3Courtois argues with former team-mate Diego GodinThe keepers last big intervention in the game is the one that will be the least talked about thank the novelty of VAR for that but it is arguably the most important.With just under an hour on the clock, not long after the Morata goal was ruled out, a free-kick floated into the Madrid box fell to Jos Mara Gimnez in an excellent position. From near point-blank range the centre-back smashed the ball with all of his might, but it wasnt enough to get the better of Courtois, who soared through the air and with hands of concrete pushed it away for a corner. The hands that have made him one of the best in his position in the world, and once made him Atletis hero.On such saves, at such key moments, are games decided. Seasons, even. Atletis apparent resurgence would soon crumble, with substitute Gareth Bale eventually taking advantage of the inevitable increased space in the game to lengthen the visitors lead to 3-1. So ended the battle of Madrid, and in all likelihood, so too ended Atletis title challenge: Barcelona now have the chance to pull nine points clear of their biggest domestic challengers from this season, should the Catalans win in Bilbao. As for Real Madrid, Santiago Solaris side overtook their city rivals and moved into second in the La Liga table after becoming the first team to win at the Metropolitano in the league all season.Let’s not forget that that the away sides keeper, the man branded a ‘rat’ and abused all afternoon, has played his own big part in that shift at the top of the Spanish table. As another man who took his own share of criticism for crossing the Madrid divide once upon a time, Solari will surely afford himself a small smile over that detail. The ‘rats’ had the last laugh this time.
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Thibaut Courtois: Pelted with abuse, former Chelsea goalkeeper got the last laugh as Real Madrid ended Atletico's title bid The Belgian shot-stopper got plenty of stick but did his job well in a
Thibaut Courtois: Pelted with abuse, former Chelsea
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Thibaut Courtois: Pelted with abuse, former Chelsea goalkeeper got the last laugh as Real Madrid ended Atletico's title bid. So ended the battle of Madrid, and
~ Thibaut Courtois: Pelted with 'rats' and abuse, ex-Chelsea
Thibaut Courtois: Pelted with 'rats' and abuse, ex-Chelsea star gets the last laugh as Real Madrid end Atletico title bid Written by: fpnews Posted on: February 10, 2019 If Thibaut Courtois had any doubt about how he would be received by former club Atlético Madrid in Saturday's derby, he didn't have to wait for kick-off to find out.
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