“Ramos is a friend of Navas, so at first it was not easy”

Thibaut Courtois lives his third season wearing the Real Madrid shirt. The Belgian goalkeeper has settled in the white goal showing great sobriety under sticks making stops that give his team points and giving security to the defense. In addition, the 28-year-old goalkeeper is becoming one of the heavyweights of the white dressing room and, therefore, an authorized voice to speak about the entity of Concha Espina.

Courtois has granted an interview to the Belgian media 'Sporza' where he has been sincere and has related his beginnings in Real Madrid, his relationship with Zidane and with Ramos, the Belgian team, the confinement …

Press: “I am quite immune to that. Last year I had a difficult time and I received a lot of criticism here in Spain and not always with reason. I get those criticisms, but I don't read everything. My press officer filters the news so I know why where the wind blows. The biggest mistake young footballers make is that they look on social media to see what is being written about them. But it just makes you feel bad. If you are going to take that into account, you will die for it. Your head will turn crazy if you have to believe everything in the press. Something will be true, but that certainly won't. I take into account what my coaches, goalkeeping coaches and teammates say. Confidently, no problem. I've always had that confidence from Zidane, also last year “.

Relationship with Zidane: “During the alternation in goal with Keylor Navas, Zidane said we had nothing more to win, so he was going to switch between Navas and me. He likes to rotate. But that has nothing to do with my relationship with Zidane. Maybe Our relationship was a bit distant at first, but that was also because I didn't have a history with him like many other players in the squad. He realized that himself and we had a good conversation in the summer of 2019. Since then our relationship it has grown and is now very good. “

Zizou as coach: “He's a very calm person, a good motivator, but he's also straightforward. He tells it like it is. He likes the personal approach. Sometimes he takes you aside after training to ask how you feel. I haven't seen a coach do yet. that”.

Sergio Ramos: “I knew him a little earlier from a vacation in Ibiza. He is a good friend of Navas, so at first it was not easy for him. But he received me well, we never had problems. Now we surrender to each other.”

Best goalkeeper: “I don't like to say that. I think I belong to the best, including Neuer, Oblak, Ter Stegen, Alisson … We goalkeepers usually have stages. At a certain point one is unbeatable, then the other. We all have different qualities.”

Awards: “Individually, I value the World Cup Gold Glove more. My predecessors to that trophy are big names. That The Best trophy is beautiful too, but more to come from a popularity poll. Together, each trophy has been important. Every The award has sentimental value. Only the Champions League is missing. “

2020 rating: “Personally, I can't complain about 2020. In January we won the Super Cup against Atlético, where I saved a penalty in the shoot-out and just before the confinamineto we also won the Clásico.”

Lockdown: “I was able to rest well during the running of the bulls. It's good to give your body a break for 2 months. And then we prepare to win LaLiga.”

Roberto Martinez: “Not only did he make us play differently, for example by putting more pressure on us, but he also brought a winning mentality to the group. Martinez doesn't talk much, but he shoots us the right way. He also trusts us, because he knows that ultimately For example, we are professionals. We are not children to be held in check. “

Problems with WIlmots in the Belgian team: “Each coach has his way of working. They may listen to you, but in the end they won't change that vision much. It's true that it crashed for a while. It bothered me that Wilmots hinted after my father leaked the lineups. My father, like Volleyball player, he was always an example of fair play. Wilmots knows that was not my father. The fact that I still play with my father's man has touched me like that. That's the only thing left in the back of my mind The rest is in the past. I have no feelings of revenge, I'm looking to the future. “