The Belgian goalkeeper insisted that becoming the first choice keeper wherever he ends up next season is the most important thing but stresses nothing has been settled yet
Thibaut Courtois has says he has to be Chelsea’s first choice goalkeeper if he is to return to Stamford Bridge next season.
The Belgian has been on loan at Atletico Madrid from the Blues since 2011, and his form in the Spanish side’s title-winning campaign has prompted some to suggest he may be staying with the London club next season instead of joining Atleti on a permanent deal.
However the 22-year-old, who on the Spanish league title with Atleti on Saturday, stressed he will not be happy to play second fiddle to Petr Cech should he remain with Jose Mourinho’s side for the 2014-15 season.
“It’s a great feeling to be champion of Spain,” he is quoted as saying by The Guardian. “I am not sure yet what happens next season.
“We have the Champions League final [on Saturday] and then the World Cup, so now is not the time to think of the future. I have two years [left on my] contract with Chelsea, so we will see.
“If I move somewhere, I will play. With my age, what I want, the most important thing for me, is to play.
“We will see what happens. But Petr [Cech] is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, he won the golden glove in the Premier League, and I have a lot of respect for him, so we will see what Chelsea decide and what they plan to do. You guys will see the decision [then].”
And Courtois, who will travel to Brazil with the Belgium for the World Cup next month, admits his success with Diego Simeone’s side has taken him by surprise.
“When I joined [Atletico] three years ago it was not sure I would stay three years,” he added. “I stayed one year and said I would see.
“We won the Europa League, the European Super Cup and then the next year it was the Copa del Rey and now it’s the [league] title. It was unthinkable to achieve all of those things.”