Focus on Courtois in Madrid derby
MADRID: Thibaut Courtois left Chelsea on bad terms last summer and he expects to feel the anger from Atletico Madrid too when he faces them in the white of Real Madrid on Saturday.
Courtois developed into one of the world’s finest goalkeepers during three years on loan at Atletico but he will be up against his former club, and Chelsea team-mate Alvaro Morata, in what could prove a pivotal city derby this weekend.
Real arrive on the back of four La Liga wins on the bounce and will jump above their opponents with a win at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Atletico have fallen six points adrift of Barcelona and are attempting to stay in touch.
For Courtois, a reunion with Diego Simeone’s side is not new -he faced them twice for Chelsea in the Champions League last season and again at the Santiago Bernabeu in September -- but this will be his first experience in front of the Atletico fans, in the colours of Real Madrid.
“It happens in football, it’s a derby and a derby here in Madrid is always heated,” Courtois said.
“They’ll whistle and shout, everything you would expect, it’s part of football. I will always respect them. Now I’m playing for the other side.”
Courtois helped Atletico crack the duopoloy of Barca and Real by winning La Liga in 2014, while also lifting the Europa League, Real won Atletico Total matches