Leave Chelsea for seat on the bench? Lopetegui sends Courtois message.

Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui has told former Chelsea star Thibaut Courtois he isn’t guaranteed to be the No 1 at the Bernabeu.

The big Belgian looked all set to return to Chelsea after World Cup and try to sort out his future at Stamford Bridge as Maurizio Sarri did not want him to leave the club.

But Courtois dug his heels in and failed to report back for pre-season training as he wanted to force through a move to Madrid, in a bid to be reunited with his family and to challenge for the Champions League title.

But although Chelsea fans will hate the fact he has gone, they will love the news that he will not be walking straight into the side as Lopetegui has told him he is not guaranteed to be number one.

He said: “There isn’t a magic formula. We need to manage it week by week. We will see as we go who is best for the team at any given time. We have two magnificent goalkeepers, and others as well.
“But of course these are two international-level keepers and we will try to manage it well and make decisions for the team.

“Of course there is huge competition for the team but I see it as something positive in that position. It’s good for the team to have competition.”
Here is what we think.

Courtois become one of the worlds best goalkeepers by playing week in and week out in the Premier League, the worlds very best League and to know that a mistake here and there over at Madrid will mean he could be dropped, will cause the Belgian to be nervous and cautious, something he never had to do at Chelsea.


It doesn’t mean he will spend more time on the bench, but it means he will not be walking straight into the Madrid squad and become the clubs undisputed number one, something we believe he could not have imagined.