Thibaut Courtois: Chelsea must 'focus' to maintain title challenge

Thibaut Courtois has told Sky Sports that Chelsea must maintain their "focus, ambition and hunger" if they want to challenge for the Premier League title.

The Blues are back on track under Antonio Conte after a disappointing 10th-place finish last season, but Courtois is cautious about naming them as challengers.

"We could be title contenders but after last season we have to be careful about everything," he said.

"We cannot relax because maybe last year we went too easy into the season because we were champions the year before. We have to keep the focus, ambition and hunger to win and, if we keep that, then maybe in May we can lift that trophy.

"The clean sheets are nice but, apart from against Leicester and Manchester United, I didn't have too much work to do. That's part of the teamwork. If you defend well you keep clean sheets and that's what's happening with Belgium and Chelsea."

Courtois, who is expected to start for Belgium in their World Cup qualifier against Estonia on Sunday, also dismissed worries about his bloodshot eye, a condition that has led to reports it could affect his game.

"After the Manchester United game I came home and got sick," he said. "I had to vomit a few times and you force yourself, and it was just a vein that popped in my eye.

"It looks scary. It was the Halloween period so then it was OK but now it's not going away. They said 10 days and it's already been two-and-a-half weeks but it doesn't affect me in the game.

"Some pictures look worse than it is. There's nothing to do about it."

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Jose Mourinho's furious rant about Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois revealed

Courtois was on loan at Atletico Madrid during Mourinho's first season back at Chelsea and played a key role in denying the Blues a Champions League final spot.

Jose Mourinho was reportedly furious when Thibaut Courtois was allowed to play against Chelsea in the Champions League three seasons ago.

The Belgian was on loan at Atletico Madrid from the Blues at the time and Mourinho had hoped the goalkeeper wouldn't be permitted to play against his team in the semi-finals.

As it was, Uefa rules allowed Courtois to play against his parent club, and he impressed in a 3-1 aggregate victory for the Spanish side.

Journalist Rob Bleasley explains the Special One's anger in his new book, 'Jose Mourinho: Up Close and Personal', which is being serialised in the Daily Mail.

Bleasley writes: "Mourinho raged to me: ‘Courtois to play is a joke but the biggest joke is (we) play Liverpool on the Sunday'." 

Courtois shone for Atletico as the Spanish side knocked Chelsea out of Europe in 2014

The Liverpool match being referred to is the Premier League match which took place on 27 April 2014, three days prior to the second leg of Chelsea's semi-final with Atletico.

"It is a disgrace that we play Sunday," Mourinho reportedly continued saying. "We play for Chelsea and also for England. It is a disgrace.

"They hide behind walls and f*** us. Who are they? Do they have a name and a face? It is amazing."

A second string Chelsea side beat Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield to effectively end the Reds' chance of winning the Premier League, but their own dreams of silverware were dashed just days later as Atletico cruised past them at Stamford Bridge.

Unimaginative Chelsea get a Real-ity check

ANN ARBOR (Michigan) • The attendance of 105,826 was the highest to watch Chelsea in the flesh.

Alas, by the time the English football club's players rose from their slumber on Saturday, the game was beyond them.

Facing a team that bore little resemblance to Real Madrid's first-choice XI, the London outfit conceded three goals in the first half - with Marcelo (19th and 26th minutes) and Mariano Diaz Mejia (37th) scoring for the Spanish giants.

Chelsea hit back through substitute Eden Hazard in the 80th minute and stoppage time. But eventually lost the International Champions Cup friendly 3-2 at the Michigan Stadium.

Very little of what manager Antonio Conte saw of his new charges would have pleased him.

Chelsea assumed control only after he changed personnel and formation following the break when Real fielded what was almost their youth team.

Among those who came on for the Spanish giants were manager Zinedine Zidane's son Enzo and Norwegian Martin Odegaard, 17.

Real never unleashed Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Keylor Navas, James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos, Pepe or Sergio Ramos, who were either injured or holidaying.

"We were tired because we've trained so hard," said Hazard. "I tried to make a difference. It wasn't enough, but I tried. The important thing is to be ready for the season."

Chelsea may have been tired after a week of Conte's gruelling double sessions in Los Angeles.

But the lack of creativity on Saturday must have been a concern and they were over-run in midfield.

At the back, they were fragile and Asmir Begovic did not exude authority in goal as he was beaten three times before he was replaced by Thibaut Courtois.

Conte juggled his ample resources gently, but chose not to risk French midfielder N'Golo Kante, who joined the squad on Friday.

The match provided a chance for Chelsea's restless squad to settle themselves down. Instead, it revealed that Conte still has much work to do to get them playing as a united force.

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois not expecting to end his career at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois does not expect to end his career at Stamford Bridge.

The 23-year-old has vowed to stay with the Blues next term despite initially hinting at an imminent transfer earlier this year.

Uncertainty over the Belgium international's future emerged after a difficult 12 months in which Courtois struggled for form and interim coach Guus Hiddink revealed differences between the goalkeeper and his coach Christophe Lollichon last season.

The Blues value Courtois at £73million, but do not intend to sell as Antonio Conte wants to make the former Atletico Madrid man his No 1 choice next term.

It is understood Asmir Begovic will instead make way as Chelsea hold talks with France international Steve Mandanda over becoming their back-up 'keeper next term.

But securing Courtois for the immediate future has not influenced his plans to one day leave Chelsea for another club. 

"It's hard to say. I don't think I will end my career here," Courtois said. 

"I didn't have [a favourite club growing up]. In Spain I watched a lot of Madrid and Barca. 

"In Germany I watched Bayern and Dortmund, in England, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, and in Italy Juventus and Milan.

"There wasn't one favourite but I always wanted to play at those clubs.

"I don't necessarily have a desire to play there, I'm already at a beautiful club, Chelsea which I always admired but we will see."

What does Antonio Conte’s arrival mean to Chelsea ?

Often deemed the best Serie A manager of the past decade, owing to his hand in Juventus winning fourScuddeto straight, Antonio Conte’s arrival at Stamford Bridge has raised fans’ expectations.

So what does Conte exactly bring to the English football and can he return Chelsea to the top of the Premier League?

Though many believe he will be a success at the Bridge, there is a polar disparity between Conte’s hard-master approach and the degree of flexibilty with which Chelsea teams in the Roman Abrahmovic era generally play.

Guus Hiddink’s premature success in both 2009 and this season has a lot to do with this calm demeanour, which offers full leeway to players.

Can the Chelsea players buy into Conte’s rugged and calculative approach?

In terms of personnel, Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard and Deigo Costa seem to be heading off this summer, and Conte is hell-bent on bringing Inter Milan’s Samir Handanovic in, with around $8 million dollars spent from the purse. After Nemanja Matic’s poor run of form in the tail-end of the season, Roma midfielder Rajda Nalnggolan is set to join the Blues.

However the biggest name on Conte’s wishlist is Aturo Vidal, from Bayern Munich, who played four years under Conte and has immense esteem for the Italian maestro.

If this transfer spree is successful, Chelsea will have an Italian flavour. But is it enough to win the league?

Jose Mourinho is the most likely candidate to replace Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, and Pep Guardiola is en route to the other side of Manchester. Leicester won’t replicate this year’s success, but the likes of West Ham and Southampton pose a serious challenge. And Tottenham look set to invest more and hang onto Harry Kane, having qualified for the Champions League main draw for the first time in the last half a deacde.

Conte is definitely a big name, but whether he can deliver remains to be seen.

Chelsea transfer plan: This is who could replace Thibaut Courtois at Stamford Bridge

FRASER FORSTER has been identified as a potential replacement for Thibaut Courtois at Chelsea.

Real Madrid are reportedly ready to move for Courtois if they fail in their attempts to sign David De Gea from Manchester United this summer.

And according to the Daily Mail, the Blues are already identifying potential replacements for the Belgian shot stopper.

It is claimed that Forster has emerged as a leading candidate, having impressed for Southampton this term.

The England international returned from a long-term knee injury earlier this season to keep six consecutive clean sheets for Ronald Koeman’s side.

Forster joined Southampton from Celtic for £10m in the summer of 2014.

His current St Mary’s deal expires at the end of the 2017/18 season.

Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid: Chelsea hope £73m pricetag will warn off La Liga giants

Chelsea hope their £73million world-record valuation of Thibaut Courtois will scare off Real Madrid.

Real are considering making another move for the keeper this summer should they fail to prise David de Gea out of Manchester United.

Courtois is understood to be keen to return to La Liga in the future after a three-year spell on loan from Chelsea at Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea responded to an enquiry by Real for Courtois last summer by putting a £73m fee on his head, more than double the Gianluigi Buffon fee for his switch to Juventus from Parma in 2001.

Despite struggling for his best form, Chelsea do not think his value has dropped and he remains one of the best young keepers in the world.

He has more than three years of his contract remaining and, having let Petr Cech join Arsenal last summer, Chelsea would only let Courtois go for a massive fee.

Real’s move for De Gea collapsed on transfer deadline day when a faulty fax machine prevented the paperwork being done in time. He signed a new four-year contract but it is thought to include a Real release clause.

Real might be encouraged by Courtois’ revelation yesterday that he enjoys playing behind Belgium’s defence rather than Chelsea’s.

He said: “We’re still conceding too many goals and that’s not entirely the defence’s fault, even though I prefer playing with Belgium’s back four.”

Meanwhile, back-up keeper Asmir Begovic has hinted he is prepared to stay next term. He had made 19 appearances by November due to Courtois suffering a knee injury, but has played just once since then.

He said: “(Moving to Chelsea) wasn’t as simple as being No1 or No2 — I felt I needed a new challenge.

“Certain things were put in place, conversations sounded good to me and I wanted to be part of a great club and help the team win trophies.

“It hasn’t gone as planned, but hopefully that will change and the future will look a bit brighter.”

Thibaut Courtois says Chelsea were right to sack Jose Mourinho

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois says Chelsea were right to sack Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho was fired in December after the club's disastrous start to their Premier League title defence which saw Chelsea flirting with relegation.

Courtois says a poor pre-season was at the root of the problem, and the Belgium international believes the owner Roman Abramovich had no choice but to sack Mourinho and bring in a new man - Guus Hiddink.

Courtois told Belgian television station RTBF: "It is hard to explain why our season has been bad. Maybe it is as a result of our pre-season preparations, which were very brief.

Mourinho was sacked in December

"We returned to training on July 16 and six days later we were already playing a match against New York Red Bulls.

"We weren't in a good physical shape. We then lost to Arsenal in the Community Shield and went on to make a bad start in the league. A downward spiral set in.

"We needed a change of manager at that point - I have no doubts about it. We drew too many matches and we have also conceded goals too easily. I could have done better with some of them."