CHELSEA star Thibaut Courtois has hit out at Louis van Gaal after he was criticised by the ex-Manchester United boss for a crucial mistake in the Champions League defeat to Barcelona.
Courtois left his legs wide open for Lionel Messi to slot through during the last-16, second-leg tie at the Nou Camp earlier this month.
Many felt Barcelona would have been denied a goal had Chelsea’s Belgian goalkeeper stood his ground and not given Messi a gap to shoot through.
Van Gaal was particularly critical in his role as a TV pundit, saying: “The game was turned upside down due to the blunder of Courtois, which I think is a big blunder.
“If he’d have had Frans Hoek (former United goalkeeping coach) as goalkeeper coach, he would have closed his legs.
“That just should not be allowed to happen.”
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But it has prompted a furious reaction from Courtois, who believes Van Gaal has no right to comment on his shot-stopping abilities.
Courtois told Sporza: “When I hear so-called experts talking, I think they know nothing about goalkeeping. For example, Van Gaal should not talk about goalkeepers.
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“I have often played against Messi and it was not the first time he scored with a shot between my legs.
“For a goalkeeper of my height it is probably my weakest point. That is very annoying but I have to face it. I have to acknowledge my mistake as a man.”
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