Thibaut Courtois backs Chelsea ahead of crucial week
Monday 7 December 2015 16:35, UK
Thibaut Courtois has backed Chelsea to capitalise on a vital seven days and get the club's faltering season back on track.
The goalkeeper returned to action at the weekend for the first time since August 29 having missed 17 games through injury but could not inspire his side to a win as the Blues lost 1-0 at home to Bournemouth.
Jose Mourinho's side host Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday before travelling to Premier League leaders Leicester City the following Monday, live on Sky Sports 1, and Courtois is backing the reigning champions to kickstart their season.
"Of course we are upset, but we have to regroup again and show strength against Porto in the Champions League and next Monday at Leicester," Courtois told the club's official website.
"It's an important week for us. On Wednesday we have to win to make sure we are first and qualified. That will be a big boost for the team as well.
"Then Leicester away is a difficult game. We knew last year it was not easy there and now they have the confidence and are playing really well. It will be a very tough game but we are confident we can push on there."
The 1-0 loss to Eddie Howe's side was the first time Chelsea have failed to score at Stamford Bridge in a Premier League match since May 2014 but the Belgian goalkeeper thinks his side were unlucky in front of goal.
"We had some chances, we didn't finish them and at the end the game can change," he said. "It was difficult creating open chances, although we had them, and if we had scored one then maybe more would come.
"At home you always want to win. We had the confidence after our last games. We were unlucky in our finishing.
"I think this season we are a bit unlucky some games, but we have the same good team as last year and that team was champions so I think we have the quality to get out of this situation and we just have to fight every day, every game."
After being out since suffering a knee injury against Crystal Palace, Courtois was left with mixed feelings about his comeback.
"I just try to play my game, help the team like every player wants to do," he said. "I think I started well with some good saves, but it's a pity for the goal I couldn't have a good touch on the ball.
"If you're being pushed by another guy it's not easy to have a hard hit on the ball and it ended up at the wrong foot and it was a goal."
