Manchester United target Antony misses first day of Ajax pre-season training amid transfer interest Thomas Tuchel 'has made contact with Raheem Sterling ahead of Chelsea's opening bidĬhelsea interested in Manchester City star The mental strength displayed by Courtois to thrive at Madrid, in those circumstances, and after a shaky first season and a half has impressed all.Įarly in that first campaign he had conceded five in his first Clasico and Ramos had even liked an Instagram post from a Madrid fan that included criticism of the player signed from Chelsea for £35million that summer. The Costa Rican was adored by all his team-mates but especially supported by captain Ramos who had never been entirely in agreement with the need to sign a new keeper. There was never any animosity but Ramos was big friends with Keylor Navas who was still at the club when Courtois arrived. It was never easy for Courtois at Madrid in the beginning. It was nice for Ramos to remember that night in Lisbon but not so great for Courtois. Not being able to get to Ramos' injury-time header has stayed with him through all that time – how could it not with a picture of the moment on the dressing room wall put there to glorify the Madrid captain in one of his finest moments. Last year he got to the semi-finals but it was his old club Chelsea who reached the final at Courtois' expense.Ĭourtois shakes former UEFA president Michel Platini's (left) hand after the 2014 final defeat He was at Madrid the following year but the curse of the quarters struck twice again with Ajax and then Manchester City knocking them out in successive seasons. In 2018 there was another quarter-final exit, this time against Barcelona. It was the same story the following year. In 2015 he was knocked out at the quarter-final stage by PSG.
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There was a pact made that they would be back sooner rather than later, says Courtois: 'I knew for me that wasn't going to be possible because I was returning from my loan, to Chelsea.'Ītletico did return with Jan Oblak in goal two years later. The Atletico players in the dressing room felt the same way after the match. 'It just wasn't our day to win it,' he has said after the game. 'And I'd stop Ramos' header now that I know which way it is going.'Ĭhampions League finals are hard to reach and harder to win.
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He didn't need any time to think about his answer: 'I would go back to the Lisbon final,' he said. Ramos' goal has haunted Courtois and it's a moment he'd change if he could turn back time