Thierry Henry meets Thibaut Courtois: Chelsea goalkeeper reveals manager Antonio Conte’s winning secrets, and his hidden talents as a midfielder
Belgium No 1 reveals all about Blues boss Antonio Conte and feels he should replace David Luiz as their deadball specialist
SUNSPORT columnist and Belgium coach THIERRY HENRY caught up with Chelsea No 1 THIBAUT COURTOIS at the club’s Cobham training ground.
The Belgian keeper, 24, who is close to landing his second Premier League title with the Blues, reveals all about manager Antonio Conte’s winning secrets, his career ambitions and why he should be taking free-kicks ahead of team-mate David Luiz ...
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THIERRY HENRY: Thibaut, hello. Thanks for your time. First question is — who inspired you as a goalkeeper when you were young?
THIBAUT COURTOIS: Well, I started as a left-back and only became a goalkeeper when I was ten or 11.
When Iker Casillas started to play, watching him was amazing. Then, as I adopted my own style, it was more Edwin van der Sar at Manchester United.
I’d watch every game. He’s like me — not the most physical with big muscles but tall and quick on the line and calm.
TH: And good with his feet?
TC: Yeah, me too!
TH: Ha! I knew you’d say that. I had a pre-season with Edwin at Juventus. He could have played out of goal — sometimes he did in training. Do you think you could play as a midfielder?
TC: Yeah. At Genk we had a good education in playing from the back.
In my first game, when I was 16, after five minutes I dribbled round the striker. I was confident.
But, at Atletico, I was kicking long balls almost every time because Diego Simeone didn’t want to play short. So then you lose that ability a bit.
With Jose Mourinho, it was mostly long balls to Iva (Branislav Ivanovic).
Last year, after my injury, I played outfield a lot in training because we often had three goalkeepers, so one would play out. I did really well.
Look, I cannot play at this level — it would kill me physically. But, ability-wise, I could play midfield.
TH: And you take a mean free-kick?
TC: You know I can take free-kicks!
TH: Ha! I know. It’s a battle to get to take free-kicks at Chelsea, though?
TC: Yeah, there are too many players that do it. Cesc Fabregas, Willian, Marcos Alonso, David Luiz.
Actually, I don’t know about Luiz, because he shoots and maybe one goes in but some go high. So I can compete with him!
TH: So, you won the league in Belgium, with Chelsea and with Atletico. Which one makes you most proud?
TC: Atletico. People think it’s easy in Spain if you’re Barca, Madrid or Atletico but it’s not.
To win a cup at Atletico is one thing — but the league, after 38 games . . .
And we had to draw the last game at Barca to stop them winning it. It was an amazing achievement.
At Genk and at Atletico, it was a bit of a surprise to be champion.
At Chelsea, when I came, we bought Cesc and Diego Costa. It was a team that had to be champions.
I’m proud to have won the Premier League but, as an achievement, I’d say Atletico was bigger.
TH: To win it ahead of Real and Barca is some effort. Now I know you cannot win a title without a great goalkeeper but how much credit do you give to the guys in front of you?
TC: A lot. But it’s not just the five in front of me. You defend with all the team.
Where we failed a bit last year when we conceded more goals was that we didn’t defend as well as a team.
You cannot defend with four and a goalkeeper. You have to defend with 11 and that’s our strength this season.
Everybody knows their role. We are giving almost no chances away.
TH: How hard is it on your brain to stay focused when you may only have one save to make in a match?
TC: It’s hard. After a game I can be really tired. We can be on the bus and I get a cramp and people say, ‘Cramp? You didn’t run!’
But it’s because all game you are so focused, physically you suffer as well.
You have to be ready for that one moment. That’s the difference between being one of the best in the world or being just below it.
TH: You mentioned last season compared to this. What has Antonio Conte brought because it looks like everyone has upped their game? Or is it also because you had to respond to last year?
TC: Last year was a bad year. Maybe because we were champions, we started a bit too relaxed.
You can’t do that in this league. As champions, everyone is extra motivated to beat you. Then we were just in a negative spiral.
This season, we have found the hunger to win again. But mostly it’s been tactical.
TH: In what way?
TC: Team shape. We have a lot of tactical sessions with all 11 players. You can see it in a game. It’s all very structured.
All 11 players know what to do, where to be if the ball moves to the other side of the pitch and we do it well.
At the start of the season we did these drills a lot. Now everybody has picked it up, it’s about refreshing players’ memories.
TH: Any other changes?
TC: Our diets are different. Before was healthy food as well. But they have gone a step further and decide what we can and can’t have. Even in hotels — before maybe there was some bread and butter on the table. That’s gone.
Small things that they believe are better to help us perform. Every three weeks we have someone come in and do the skin fold test, too.
TH: No sneaky bread rolls on the way home, then?
TC: No! I’ll have lunch here at the Cobham canteen. I do have breakfast at home, though, because I like my Nutella!
TH: You’ve won the league with Genk, Atletico and Chelsea. What was the key ingredient in all these teams?
TC: Me!
TH: Ha! Very good!
TC: No, no! A good structure, good tactics, team spirit, where you all fight for each other, and talent, of course. And also that belief you can win even if you’re having a rough time in a game.
TH: What about honesty? When I won leagues we were always honest with each other. Sometimes it might not be nice but that’s how it is. Do you have that?
TC: At Genk, yes. Atletico had a really strong dressing room. They were winners. You need people who will say, ‘You need to give more. I know you can give more’.
It is saying it, the other person accepting it and everyone doing it. That’s a good way of keeping at the top.
TH: Do keepers get enough credit? As a striker, you miss ten one-on-ones and score in the last minute, you’re a hero. If a keeper makes one mistake and saves ten you get hammered.
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TC: True. At Stoke last year we drew 1-1 and at 1-0 I made three good saves. Then I went for a cross with Crouch pressurising me and I pushed it away but not far enough.
It hit Diouf and went in. I got criticised. Everyone forgot my previous saves. But I have no problem with that. Big teams expect the best.
TH: You’ve won so much at just 24. Do you ever pinch yourself?
TC: Yes, sometimes I have a moment of reflection — it can happen in a game. A beautiful day at Stamford Bridge, the atmosphere is good, I stop and say, ‘Nice’!
TH: You’re missing one major trophy — the Champions League. Is that a driving force?
TC: Yeah. It would have been so nice to have won it with Atletico when we got to the final. But sometimes you have to lose it once to win it and enjoy it even more.
It’s a dream but it’s not driving me crazy. I hope, when I’m finished, I can look back and say I won it.
We also have the FA Cup semi- final coming up — I haven’t won that yet, either.
TH: And the Belgium set-up? All good?
TC: Apart from the third assistant! I’m joking!
Yes, it’s good. We have work to do in Russia to be one of the favourites.
But I hope we can pick up on the things our management team said this week