Monday, 21st April, 2014
Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is relieved to find out that UEFA has cleared him to play against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals and admits for the two games he will do everything to deny his parent club a place in the final.
Courtois joined Chelsea from Genk in 2011 on a five-year deal and was immediately loaned out to Atletico Madrid, and since then his loan deal to the Madrid club has been extended twice and is again set to expire this summer.
"I'm very relieved. That we've drawn Chelsea is special because even though I'm at Atleti, Chelsea are my club", the Belgian told FIFA’s official site.
Atletico were supposed to pay £5m to Chelsea for Courtois to appear against them in the semi-finals but UEFA termed that agreement "null, void and unenforceable” and cleared the Belgian to appear against his parent club tomorrow night at the Vicente Calderon.
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The 21-year-old said that he is a Chelsea fan and wants them to win the Premier League this season but also admits that his allegiance for the moment lies with Atletico Madrid.
"I want to win trophies here and I'll be an Atleti supporter for these two games, but at all other times I'm a Chelsea fan too.
"I hope they win the Premier League, just not these two matches. I really hope we can reach the final as we're so close. They're the favourites, but Barca were too."
Since joining Atletico Madrid on loan from Chelsea in 2011, Courtois has made 106 league appearances for Los Indios and has become integral to the club’s resurgence this season.
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