Chelsea travel to Atletico Madrid for a Champions League group game on Wednesday after Diego Costa switched allegiances back to the LaLiga outfit, and Thibaut Courtois believes his former colleague was misunderstood in England.
Although Costa led the Blues to two Premier League titles in his time at Stamford Bridge, Courtois feels that his critics only emphasised the fiery negatives of his game.
“Diego [Costa] was underrated in England,” stated the Belgian in The Sun.
“People put too much attention on him being a little bully on the field rather than looking at his quality.
“He is one of the nicest, funniest guys I know.”
Courtois will likely get a good reception at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano as a former Atleti loanee, but he accepts that ex-Real Madrid man Alvaro Morata is unlikely to be afforded the same response.
“Alvaro [Morata] will get a different reception to me,” remarked the keeper.
“He played a lot against Atletico. He scored, but not against me.
“It will be a big game against his old rivals. We know Alvaro is a top striker and I am very happy for him that he scored a hat-trick [versus Stoke].
“It felt good for him but also for all the team.”
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