Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois reveals special Champions League motivation

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has revealed his special motivation to win the Champions League with the Blues after previous heartache in the competition.

The Belgian shot-stopper was in goal for Atletico Madrid as they lost the 2013/14 final to rivals Real Madrid – a result he admits still hurts him to this day.

Courtois spent three seasons on loan in Madrid before returning and becoming number one at Chelsea, though he’s yet to come as close again to winning the big trophy.

Chelsea didn’t perform too well in the Champions League in Courtois’ first two seasons as first choice, and then missed out on the competition altogether last season,

Courtois will return to his old club tonight as Chelsea take on Atletico, and ahead of the game he admits he is keen to finally win Europe’s biggest club competition with the west Londoners.

‘In those three years (with Atletico), we won La Liga, the Europa League, the Uefa Super Cup against Chelsea and the Spanish Cup against Real Madrid,’ the 25-year-old told the London Evening Standard.

‘Unfortunately, we lost the Champions League Final in 2014 after Real Madrid scored an equaliser in the last minute of normal time.