Thibaut Courtois has suggested that Xabi Alonso struggled to connect with certain members of Real Madrid’s dressing room before leaving the club. The Belgian goalkeeper nevertheless praised the Spaniard, now in charge of Chelsea, while also discussing his reunion with Jose Mourinho at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Thibaut Courtois has opened up about Xabi Alonso’s departure from Real Madrid. Speaking to ‘Sky Sports’ during the Web Summit in Lisbon, the Belgian goalkeeper hinted that the Spanish coach did not always see eye to eye with everyone in the dressing room, although he insisted that he remains a great admirer of his former manager.
“In football, when results aren’t good, the coach is always the first to pay the price. Perhaps in some situations he didn’t connect with certain players, but I think he had a good relationship with many others,” Courtois explained.
“I really like Xabi Alonso and the way he works. I think he’s an excellent coach and what he achieved at Bayer Leverkusen was outstanding. I believe he’ll eventually do very well at Chelsea,” added the Real Madrid goalkeeper.
Courtois also discussed his reunion with Jose Mourinho, who returned to Real Madrid this summer. The pair previously worked together at Chelsea, and the Belgian believes the Portuguese manager has changed over the years.
“He’s matured a little and, with experience, he’s become somewhat calmer. I remember that at Chelsea he was tougher in the dressing room and created a stronger sense of pressure. He’s still like that now, but slightly less intense,” he explained.
“His personality and presence are still the same. You walk into a room and, if he’s there, you can feel his presence. I think that’s exactly what we need,” Courtois continued.
The goalkeeper also revealed an amusing anecdote about Mourinho’s arrival in Madrid. He accidentally ignored the manager’s first message for two weeks while travelling during the World Cup. When Mourinho contacted him again, Courtois even had to ask someone at Real Madrid whether the number really belonged to his new coach.
