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Thibaut Courtois clarifies comments on Jordan Pickford

Chelsea goalkeeper suggested he may have saved Adnan Januzaj's winner in group stage match against England

Thibaut Courtois during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Quarter Final match between Brazil and Belgium at Kazan Arena on July 6, 2018 in Kazan, Russia.
Image: Thibaut Courtois has clarified comments he made about England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford

Thibaut Courtois insists he did not intend his recent remarks about Jordan Pickford to sound disparaging.

Belgium goalkeeper Courtois got involved in a bizarre spat over his England counterpart when he suggested, because he is taller, he might have saved Adnan Januzaj's winner when the two sides met in the World Cup last week.

Januazaj scored the only goal as Belgium beat England 1-0 in a group encounter in Kaliningrad.

Courtois feels his comments have been taken out of context to make it seem as if he was belittling the Everton player.

Speaking after Belgium's semi-final win over Brazil, the Chelsea keeper told BBC Sport: "This thing about Jordan - I want to say and clarify it because I heard a lot of stuff.

Chris Kirkland was critical of Thibaut Courtois for bringing up the topic of Jordan Pickford's height after their World Cup group game
Image: Pickford saved Carlos Bacca's penalty in England's shootout win over Colombia

"I never mocked his height, I want to make that clear, because I would never mock the height of a goalkeeper. I think he is a great goalkeeper. He proved that this year.

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"I only said that, because he got a touch, I would have saved it because I am 15 centimetres taller, but I never mocked his height. He is a great goalkeeper. I want to make that clear."

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