Thibaut Courtois reacted on Monday evening to the storm of commotion that descended on him after his decision to leave the selection of Belgium for the match in and against Estonia. The Limburg goalkeeper is furious, especially at national coach Domenico Tedesco.
Courtois ‘deeply disappointed’ in candid Tedesco
“I was surprised this afternoon when I heard the coach’s press conference. There he gave a biased, subjective reading of a private conversation we had after the game against Austria. Obviously it’s not the first or last time I talk to a coach about locker room issues, but it’s the first time someone decides to go public. That deeply disappoints me, but I want to make it clear that his judgment does not correspond to reality,” the goalkeeper posted on his Instagram account.
So what was discussed? Courtois: “In that conversation I asked him to explain decisions that have damaged us in the past and to avoid them in the future. Being captain of the national team is not a whim or a random choice. That should be his decision and I tried to convey that to him. Unfortunately that didn’t work out.”
He continues: “I want to be clear that I have not demanded anything under any circumstances and that I have spoken to my team-mate Romelu Lukaku to clarify this situation. I also want to make it clear that, contrary to what has been claimed, I have not spoken to other teammates about such situations. He concludes by saying that he also underwent a checkup in his right knee on Sunday afternoon and that the decision to leave the Belgian camp was made in consultation between the medical staff of the Belgians and that of Real Madrid.
Transfer-free Hazard considers options
Eden Hazard (32) does not yet know where his future lies after his recent departure from Real Madrid. Hazard was put in the spotlight around the European Championship qualifier between Belgium and Austria on Saturday evening.
During half-time, Hazard was driven through the King Baudouin Stadium in an open car. And afterwards his former teammates in the national team formed a guard of honor. For the 126-time international, who said goodbye to the Red Devils after the World Cup in Qatar.
“I thought it was a nice farewell, also emotionally,” Hazard told RTBF. ‘The nice reactions prove that I have done good things in the national team. Unfortunately we were unable to win this match. I don’t like watching a game like this. I would have preferred to help on the field.’
Hazard has not yet made a decision about his next step at club level. “After three difficult years at Real, I want to go on holiday with my family first. A lot has been written about my future recently,” said the Belgian. “I really don’t know yet, I want to continue for at least another two or three years. I still have enough energy.”
