Chelsea’s Courtois: Saves more important than being good with your feet

Thibaut Courtois knows the expectation is for modern goalkeepers to be good with their feet but the Chelsea stopper believes shot-stopping will always be the number one trait for a No.1.

Man City boss Pep Guardiola in particular has expressed his desire for his goalie to play the ball out from the back – ditching former first choice Joe Hart for sweeper-keeper Claudio Bravo, with mixed results.

Courtois is lucky enough to be capable with the ball at his feet but also one of the Premier League’s best when it comes to more traditional goalkeeping attributes.

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And while the Belgian admits Chelsea boss Antonio Conte like him to instigate attacks, his main focus is keeping the ball out of the net.

“It all depends on what type of football your manager wants you to play,” said Courtois.

“Antonio likes us to play out from the back so we need a goalkeeper who has the ability to pass the ball, and is not afraid to receive the ball and open the game up.

“It’s important for our game and probably even more so for Man City, who go maybe one step further.

“In general, most goalkeepers of the new generation will be brought up being able to produce good passes, but ultimately what’s most important is to save balls.

“It’s nice to have a goalkeeper who is very strong with his feet but in the end you want him to make saves which help you win the game.

“The hand capacity, and the saves you make, are always more important than your feet, but these days both are important.”