Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois ‘deeply disappointed’ by Domenico Tedesco’s remarks | Football News – Times of India
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois refuted coach Domenico Tedesco‘s claims that he left the Belgium squad after being overlooked for the captaincy. Courtois clarified that his departure from the training camp was due to a knee problem.
Courtois participated in the 1-1 home draw against Austria in the Euro 2024 qualifiers on Saturday. However, he informed Tedesco after the match that he would not be available for the upcoming game against Estonia on Tuesday.
Tedesco suggested that Courtois was dissatisfied with the decision to appoint striker Romelu Lukaku as captain for the Austria game, as regular skipper Kevin De Bruyne was sidelined due to injury.
Disputing Tedesco’s account, the 31-year-old Real Madrid goalkeeper dismissed the claim and responded to the coach’s comments.
“I want to make it clear that it is not the first time or the last time that I talk to a coach about issues related to a locker room, but it is the first time that someone decides to tell it publicly,” he said in a statement.
“I am deeply disappointed with this, but I want to make it clear that the coach’s assessments do not fit with reality.”
Courtois said he had never demanded anything from Tedesco and that he had already spoken to Lukaku to clear things up.
Courtois, who has 102 caps since making his national team debut in 2011, said he made himself unavailable after undergoing a check-up for a problem with his right knee.
“The medical team of my club and the national team were in contact and reviewed all the corresponding material to make the decision to leave the training camp,” he added.
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Courtois participated in the 1-1 home draw against Austria in the Euro 2024 qualifiers on Saturday. However, he informed Tedesco after the match that he would not be available for the upcoming game against Estonia on Tuesday.
Tedesco suggested that Courtois was dissatisfied with the decision to appoint striker Romelu Lukaku as captain for the Austria game, as regular skipper Kevin De Bruyne was sidelined due to injury.
Disputing Tedesco’s account, the 31-year-old Real Madrid goalkeeper dismissed the claim and responded to the coach’s comments.
“I want to make it clear that it is not the first time or the last time that I talk to a coach about issues related to a locker room, but it is the first time that someone decides to tell it publicly,” he said in a statement.
“I am deeply disappointed with this, but I want to make it clear that the coach’s assessments do not fit with reality.”
Courtois said he had never demanded anything from Tedesco and that he had already spoken to Lukaku to clear things up.
Courtois, who has 102 caps since making his national team debut in 2011, said he made himself unavailable after undergoing a check-up for a problem with his right knee.
“The medical team of my club and the national team were in contact and reviewed all the corresponding material to make the decision to leave the training camp,” he added.
His father, Thierry, also told Belgian media he had pulled out of the Estonia game with a knee injury but Tedesco dismissed this.
“I wish I could say it’s an injury but I can’t lie,” said Tedesco, who described Courtois as the “best goalkeeper in the world”. “I always try to protect players but that’s impossible in this situation.”
Belgium have four points from their opening two qualifiers in Group F, having also won 3-0 in Sweden.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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