In order to completely kill all the rumors that put Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in other big clubs in Europe, manager Guus Hiddink had to come out and dismiss the idea on the same day he gave the media conference ahead of this Saturday's match against nearly relegated Sunderland. For Guus, Courtois commitment is all that matters and he is currently all set on getting fully recovered from his injury in order to count for newcomer Antonio Conte next season.
The Dutchman told the press in a news conference: "They are working as a group, as goalies do, in their reduced area. They are different personalities but they do well, they work hard. The most important thing is that Courtois said he is very happy at Chelsea and will stay at the club. If [Chelsea media chief] Steve [Atkins] and I have a big dispute, we have to fight each other out of this hall. That's not what is going on - they are happy here."
About not having anything at stake but still playing their best against other team's who are risking a season result, Hiddink knows it's about pride: "We said before when nothing was at stake that, being at a big club, the obligation was there to act well as a player. They did that in the previous games and we are going into the last three games with that attitude. We would love to win. It's a different game, we are regarding their situation now in the relegation zone. It does not make it easy, they have a very experienced manager who will fine tune the team in the right way."
"There is nothing at stake, no silverware, but there is pride and football enjoyment. For the teams still fighting against relegation, they deserve us to go for the win. I am not going to change a lot in the team - take six or seven players from the academy - that would not be fair. Given the situation, it is not fair to give a serious approach to the Spurs game and not the other ones."
Photo credit: Chelsea FC