Belgium’s experienced goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, addressed the split opinions among Belgian football fans regarding his return to the national team. He took the opportunity to admit his mistakes and clarify misunderstandings, emphasizing that his departure was not due to being overlooked for the captaincy, but rather due to deteriorating relations with the coach.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper has not played for Belgium since June 2023. After withdrawing himself ahead of the European Championship qualifiers against Estonia, he voluntarily stayed out of the team for 22 months.
However, after the appointment of Rudy García as coach in January, replacing Domenico Tedesco, Courtois changed his stance. He was called up to the national squad for the match against Croatia, marking his return after a long hiatus.
The Real Madrid goalkeeper admitted that he could have handled the situation better, but after a breakdown in relations with Tedesco, he didn’t see any opportunity to play under his coaching.
After rejoining the Belgian squad, Courtois spoke with his teammates on Monday. The following day, at a press conference, he shared that all issues were discussed openly.
“There were many misunderstandings, and many half-truths were told. I explained exactly what happened, and my teammates asked their questions,” Courtois said.
He expressed relief in being able to have an open conversation with everyone and is hopeful that this will put an end to the controversies.
“Being able to talk about everything is a relief for me. Now everything is clear, and we are looking ahead. I know I made some mistakes as well. At that time, I wasn’t mentally ready to play,” he explained.
“After a long season, sometimes you react emotionally, and from my side, that wasn’t a wise move. It wasn’t good for the team or the supporters,” he added.
Courtois also mentioned that he believes the football association could have handled the situation better, but at the time, he was also dealing with a serious knee injury. “I wasn’t ready to play in the European Championship. And when the relationship with the coach deteriorated, it became even harder,” he said.
Following his voluntary departure, there were many rumors in the media. Courtois strongly refuted these, stating, “It was written that I left because I wasn’t given the captaincy, but that’s not true. It’s the biggest mistake. I understand that this was difficult for the supporters, and I hope they can accept me again. I know it’s not easy, but I believe they will support the team.”
Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans, who was present at the press conference, appreciated Courtois for clarifying everything. “The most important thing is that he understands that some things weren’t well received by the players. He said that wasn’t his intention,” Tielemans concluded.
