Real Madrid shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois revealed he laughed after Premier League giants Manchester City won the Best Club award at Ballon d’Or ceremony. The Belgian was in attendance at the ceremony as he lifted the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, after his heroics helped the Los Blancos to three trophies in Champions League, La Liga and Spanish Super Cup last season. However, he was left amused by the fact that despite Real dominating Europe as well as Spain, they fell behind City in the Best Club award.
Manchester City on the other hand had only one trophy to show for the entirety of 21/22 season, the Premier League title. Pep Guardiola’s men once again failed in the bid to win their first ever Champions League trophy, after Real Madrid ousted them in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Liverpool swooped in the FA Cup and the League Cup, leaving City with only the Premier League title which they won by an impressive 93 points.
Thibaut Courtois critical of the voting process at the Ballon d’Or
Real Madrid would have definitely felt undone after Manchester City won the bragging rights as the Best Club at Ballon d’Or. The Los Blancos won a stunning fifth Champions League title in nine years, which was also their record-extending 14th triumph in the history of the competition. Moreover, they did it in some fashion by toppling PSG, Chelsea, Manchester City in the knockout rounds and Liverpool in the final.
Thibaut Courtois gave an honest answer on being asked how did he react to City beating Real to the Best Club award. The Belgian also expressed his displeasure on the voting process of the Ballon d’Or as well, claiming they will never let a goalkeeper win the award. Courtois, after winning the Yashin Trophy named after Lev Yashin who was the last ‘keeper to win the Ballon d’Or said:
“When Manchester City won the trophy for the best club? We [his Real Madrid teammates present at the ceremony] looked at each other and laughed.”
He further continued on the prospect of a ‘keeper winning the award once again since Yashin:
“I’m very happy for Karim Benzema. I’m not saying I would have won it, but I’m not even on the podium being the goalkeeper who won LaLiga and the Champions League. It seems scoring a goal is better than stopping it. It is a battle that remains to be won. Seeing the logic and knowing how they vote, I knew I would have no chance of winning it.
“In the top 10, there wasn’t even a single defender. At least this year they have invented the trophy for best goalkeeper. A future winning goalkeeper? I see that as impossible for a goalkeeper. It’s impossible to win this award. I don’t know if as a goalkeeper you can do more than what I did last year.”
Many would agree with the 29-year-old, since many prolific goalkeepers have come close to win the award, but were denied by a forward. Manuel Nuer and Gigi Buffon are the modern day examples who despite their heroics in between the sticks failed to lift the golden ball at the gala. Last season as well, Courtois managed a commendable 22 clean-sheets across 52 games in all competitions and made a staggering 9 saves in the Champions League final against Liverpool.