Regularly emerging as one of the game’s most thoughtful footballers, Thibaut Courtois was particularly articulate discussing Jose Mourinho.
Courtois’ Real Madrid face Mourinho’s Benfica with the score 1-0 to the Spanish side from the first leg of their Champions League play-off.
The first leg was overshadowed by accusations of racism by Gianluca Prestianni with Vinicius Jr reporting the incident and Kylian Mbappe telling the media he heard the word ‘monkey’.
In the aftermath Mourinho made some ill-advised comments suggesting Vinicius had to take some blame for his celebration, something Courtois was displeased with from his former Chelsea manager.
“Mourinho is Mourinho. As a coach, you’re always going to defend your club and what your player has told you,” he began.
“The only thing I didn’t like was using Vinicius’s celebration. He celebrated like many players do when they score against Real Madrid, because the euphoria is always double or triple.
“We can’t justify an alleged act of racism with a celebration.”
Courtois then went on to explain why it’s so important that the matter is dealt with properly.
“We are at a crucial moment in football to put an end to these things,” he declared.
“We in the locker room know what Vinicius told us.
“I don’t want to single anyone out; it’s happened in many stadiums, and we have to put an end to it.
“UEFA makes the decision, and that’s a good message.”
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