Former Atletico Madrid teammate Koke has slammed Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for making provocative statements before of the Champions League final.
The 30-year-old Belgium international spent three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid from Chelsea between 2011 and 2014, but infuriated the Spanish club’s supporters before of Saturday night’s match against Liverpool.
“They [Liverpool] have already played one final against Madrid in 2018,” Courtois declared confidently in his pre-match press conference.
“It was a unique experience for me. When Real Madrid plays in a final, they always win, and today I’m on the right side of history.”
The shot-prediction stopper’s came true as he put in a sensational man-of-the-match performance to help Los Blancos win their 14th European title, with Vinicius Junior crushing Liverpool by scoring the solitary goal of the final.
Courtois’ comments, however, have harmed his legacy with Atletico Madrid, for whom he made 154 games and won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Europa League.
His words were especially painful to Atletico fans after they were defeated in the 2014 Champions League final by local rivals Real, for whom he started in goal.
The plaque had been taken out of Atletico’s ‘Walk of Legends’ within hours, according to reports. In yet another setback for Courtois, his former roommate has accused him of being “wrong” in his pre-final comments.
