Thibaut Courtois: Chelsea goalkeeper recovers from recent errors to record first clean sheet in five matches

Courtois says he proved he is 'mentally strong' after recent set-backs

Thibault Courtois (Getty Images)

Largely lost in the wake of Cesc Fabregas larcenous late winner at Loftus Road was the fact that Chelsea’s win at QPR was their first clean sheet in five matches.

This was something of a relief to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois whose previous two club matches has featured Charlie Adam’s 66-yard strike against him, and a goal gifted by the Belgian to Abel Hernandez at Hull.

Courtois would have been beaten again but for a stunning save from Matt Phillips with the game goalless, a save Jose Mourinho, only half in jest, said he ‘owed’ the team after his errors.

Courtois, who kept two clean sheets for his country in between the matches against Hull and Stoke said his confidence had remained undimmed. “I never doubted that I can't catch the ball. Against Hull, I just tried to make the best solution. It was not the best control, but in the second half I showed that I am mentally strong and I saved the team.

“Against Stoke, if you want to play high as a team, you as a goalkeeper have to play high as a team as well. Charlie Adam did a good strike and that can happen.

“But I showed against QPR that if you play high, you can go get the ball from the midfield. If I'm on the 18-yard box, I can go get it there. For me it's not a problem.

“I'm 22 and still learning. These were moments that I can learn from but I never doubt myself. That's my strength. I helped the team with two good saves and I'm happy. The most important thing is the team and against Hull and Stoke we still won.”

Team-mate Didier Drogba observed of the QPR shut-out: “It was important for him. He's been giving us points from the beginning of the season. A mistake like last time can happen. I don't think it was a mistake anyway, I think it was more of a great shot from Charlie Adam.

“That's the life of a keeper. One day you make a mistake or concede a fantastic goal when there is nothing you can do, then against QPR you save your team. He had a great game.”