Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was at fault for both of Lionel Messi’s goals in their 0-3 loss to the Catalans in their UEFA Champions League tie at the Nou Camp, apologised for his errors that directly led to the Blues exiting the continental competition at the round-of-16 stage.
“Individual mistakes cost us in both legs,” the Belgian was quoted as saying by the club website.
The tie was evenly balanced after the first leg at Stamford Bridge had ended in a 1-1 draw but Barcelona forward Lionel Messi somehow managed to beat Courtois from a narrow angle, sending a low shot between the keeper’s legs in the 3rd minute itself to leave the Blues with a mountain to climb.
“For the first goal, I didn’t expect the shot from (Lionel) Messi, and I was too late to close my legs, so it’s a mistake on my part and it’s not nice to start the evening like that. The others were missed passes and we paid for them, they scored from our mistake.”
Young Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen’s error in the first leg had proven costly as Messi had equalised for La Blaugrana to somewhat unfairly ensure spoils were shared.
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Luck was clearly not on the West Londoners’ side in either leg, for winger Willian hit the post twice at Stamford Bridge and on Wednesday, Marcos Alonso and Antonio Rudiger also saw their efforts come off the woodwork.
And Courtois lamented his side’s lack of headway in front of the opposition goal.
The Blues’ towering custodian also felt now was not the time to mope for they have a FA Cup quarter-final with Leicester City looming large on the horizon.
“Apart from that we defended well, tried to play well and we had chances. We hit the (woodwork) twice, it was a bit unlucky but the individual mistakes cost us. We have to be honest about that, continue working and try to win on Sunday in the FA Cup because that’s the only silverware we might get this season.”
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Ousmane Dembele would score off a breathtaking counter in the first-half to extend the Catalans’ lead and Messi would then effectively put the game to bed with yet another nutmeg finish past Courtois in the second-half.
“Obviously I played against him a lot of times and conceded goals through my legs from him before, a rueful Courtois admitted as he contnued, “A goalkeeper like me, I am two metres, it’s maybe the weakest part, because there is always a space between,”.
“It’s annoying but I have to come out, say I made a mistake, I made some good saves as well, and it’s unlucky to go out to goals from mistakes. We just have to work hard and continue,” the Belgian shot-stopper added.