Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has hit back at Domenico Todesco insisting he pulled out of the squad due to a knee injury. Prior to the game, Tedesco stated that the Real Madrid goalkeeper had declined to leave for the trip because he was “offended” by not being selected as captain against Austria on Saturday. In a news conference, Tedesco said that Courtois informed him that he was leaving for home after the Austria match and denied any medical concerns. However, Courtois was so enraged by Tedesco’s assertions that he forcefully rejected them in a statement posted on his own website.
“The coach’s press conference this afternoon, in which he provided an incomplete and subjective description of a private discussion we had after the match against Austria, caught me off guard,” Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said about Domenico Todesco. “I want to be clear that this is neither the first nor the last occasion I’ve spoken to a coach about locker room-related concerns, but it is the first time someone has chosen to share it publicly. Although I am quite saddened by this, I want to be clear that the coach’s evaluations do not reflect reality.”
Courtois, who is one of two vice-captains for Belgium along with Romelu Lukaku, was chosen to lead the team against Austria in place of Kevin De Bruyne, who was marking his 100th appearance.
“I still maintain that I have made no demands and that I have spoken with my teammate Romelu Lukaku to explain any relevant details,” he added. “In addition, I had a checkup for an issue with my right knee on Sunday afternoon. The decision to leave the training camp was made after consultation between the medical teams of my club and the national team and a study of all pertinent documentation.”
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