Chelsea number one, Thiabut Courtois has warned former Manchester United goalkeeper, Louis Van Gaal to talk no more about goalkeepers following his poor display against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.
Van Gaal was among those across the world who lambasted the Chelsea goalkeeper for allowing Barcelona’s Lionel Messi to put through the ball through his legs on two occasions at Camp Nou as the catalans beat Chelsea 3-0 to secure a ticket to the quarter final of the competition.
“The game was turned upside down due to the blunder of Courtois [for Messi’s first goal] which I think is a big blunder,” Van Gaal told Ziggo Sports.
“If he’d have had [Dutch former Manchester United goalkeeping coach] Frans Hoek as goalkeeper coach, he would have closed his legs.
“That just should not be allowed to happen,” he said.
However, Courtois has ‘attacked’ Van Gaal, saying he has no goalkeeping experience.
The Belgium international told Sporza while away on international duty: “When I hear so-called experts talking, I think they know nothing about goalkeeping — for example, Van Gaal should not talk about goalkeepers.”
He added: “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.”
Belgium will play against Saudi Arabia in an international friendly on Tuesday.