Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was left to rue the performance of the club’s own goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after their Champions League semi-final elimination by Atletico Madrid.Belgian international Courtois, 21, has been on loan at Atletico from Chelsea since 2011 and he produced a save in Wednesday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge that Mourinho identified as the key moment in the tie.
With Atletico ahead on away goals after Adrian Lopez had cancelled out Fernando Torres’s 36th-minute opener for Chelsea, Courtois plunged to his left to block a header from home skipper John Terry.
Moments later Diego Costa put Atletico 2-1 up from the penalty spot after he had been fouled by Samuel Eto’o and a late Arda Turan effort completed a 3-1 victory that set up a showdown with city rivals Real Madrid in the final in Lisbon on May 24.
“The difference was one minute in the second half, where the Atletico goalkeeper makes an impossible save from John Terry’s header,” said Mourinho, whose side had drawn 0-0 in last week’s first leg.
“Instead of 2-1 for Chelsea, a few seconds later, there is a penalty, which I’m happy people tell me was a penalty, and they scored the 2-1.
“That minute was crucial. After that, they had complete control and we had the feeling the game was lost.
“They had the feeling the game was in their hands and after that they were very solid, very mature, a real team. I knew before they were a real team, and I congratulate them.”
Courtois was making his first appearance at Stamford Bridge, but Mourinho said that he was not frustrated by the knowledge that Chelsea had effectively been denied by one of their own players.
“No, no, no,” he said. “He’s the Atletico goalkeeper, he plays for Atletico, and he did his job.”
Atletico coach Diego Simeone, meanwhile, was evasive when asked if he would like to keep Courtois at the Vicente Calderon for a fourth season.
“I’m just experiencing this moment, trying to relish this moment,” he said.
“I’m sure in the future the directors will decide what’s best for this young lad and whether he will stay at the club or not.”
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was left to rue the performance of the club’s own goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after their Champions League semi-final elimination by Atletico Madrid.
Belgian international Courtois, 21, has been on loan at Atletico from Chelsea since 2011 and he produced a save in Wednesday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge that Mourinho identified as the key moment in the tie.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/mourinho-regrets-courtois-friendly-fire/#sthash.gxFm7Pgn.dpufChelsea manager Jose Mourinho was left to rue the performance of the club’s own goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after their Champions League semi-final elimination by Atletico Madrid.
Belgian international Courtois, 21, has been on loan at Atletico from Chelsea since 2011 and he produced a save in Wednesday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge that Mourinho identified as the key moment in the tie.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/mourinho-regrets-courtois-friendly-fire/#sthash.gxFm7Pgn.dpuf
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