Abakan

Playing while there is a GK like Cech on the bench was playing with LOTS of pressure. I don't know many GK that had the same situation. Without Cech he should "feel free to play".

Playing while there is a GK like Cech on the bench was playing with LOTS of pressure. I don't know many GK that had the same situation. Without Cech he should "feel free to play".

Only 22 years old and he already won :
Title in Belgium (by not playing for Anderlecht !)
Title in Spain (by not playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona !)
Spanish Cup
Europa League
European Supercup
Best Goalkeeper in Belgium
Best Goalkeeper in Spain (+1 more to come)
What else to say ?

Only 22 years old and he already won :
Title in Belgium (by not playing for Anderlecht !)
Title in Spain (by not playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona !)
Spanish Cup
Europa League
European Supercup
Best Goalkeeper in Belgium
Best Goalkeeper in Spain (+1 more to come)
What else to say ?

This clause has been signed under the influence of emotion because of the Supercup result that was a huge disappointment for Chelsea. Chelsea saw one of their players winning a trophy against them. Very rude for the club to watch this. Making that clause was probably a way to palliate the deception. And now it's a matter of ego because of one fear : the same scenario.
Now 2 years later things have changed. Thibaut Courtois won individual trophies and a Cup. Playing Champions League semi-finals is a unique chance for him. At only 21 ! How many 21 yo GK played a semi-final of Champions League ? When you think at Thibaut as an investment, you must make it fructify. Also, he will play under very high pressure : he cannot afford to make a mistake or suspicions will arise. It's also a very good opportunity for Chelsea to watch him live. And by Chelsea, I mean from the President to the supporters.
Concerning the "legal" aspect of this clause :
1) This is an UEFA competition. Their rules.
2) This is not a national competition. It's very common to see those clauses (for example in Belgium) in national championships because the loaned player is playing the same competition of his owner every week-end with the same objective : the title. See the Lukaku situation : he has the opportunity to score against competitors of Chelsea every week-end. But not against his club. Chelsea is an English club, so is Everton. They play an English competition. Chelsea is an English club, Atlético a Spanish one and they face against each others in an European competition. It would be non-sense. Imagine a player loaned to a Chinese club that you could face in World Clubs Cup. Are you going to sign a clause for this potential situation ? Atlético - Chelsea was unlikely to happen. Chelsea - Everton was already confirmed as the 2 clubs play the same division.
3) Such a clause should be signed and valid only for one season. Each season is different and we cannot compare the situation now and 2 years ago.
Thibaut is only a goalkeeper. It's not like we were talking about Messi. Our strikers must be able to score against whoever the goalkeeper is : Neuer, Buffon, Courtois...

If a Chelsea striker makes his job, he will score against Courtois.If they cannot do it, they failed.
Now if Courtois was a striker and scores against Chelsea, this is a completely different situation. Is he going to celebrate it ? Did he dive to get a penalty ? Will he injure a Chelsea player ?
Talking about a goalkeeper and a field player is completely different. Preventing a goal and scoring a goal are emotionally two different things.
Now the fact is that people are probably scared to count on Chelsea "strikers" to score against a goalkeeper of Thibaut level. The truth is probably here.

This clause has been signed under the influence of emotion because of the Supercup result that was a huge disappointment for Chelsea. Chelsea saw one of their players winning a trophy against them. Very rude for the club to watch this. Making that clause was probably a way to palliate the deception. And now it's a matter of ego because of one fear : the same scenario.
Now 2 years later things have changed. Thibaut Courtois won individual trophies and a Cup. Playing Champions League semi-finals is a unique chance for him. At only 21 ! How many 21 yo GK played a semi-final of Champions League ? When you think at Thibaut as an investment, you must make it fructify. Also, he will play under very high pressure : he cannot afford to make a mistake or suspicions will arise. It's also a very good opportunity for Chelsea to watch him live. And by Chelsea, I mean from the President to the supporters.
Concerning the "legal" aspect of this clause :
1) This is an UEFA competition. Their rules.
2) This is not a national competition. It's very common to see those clauses (for example in Belgium) in national championships because the loaned player is playing the same competition of his owner every week-end with the same objective : the title. See the Lukaku situation : he has the opportunity to score against competitors of Chelsea every week-end. But not against his club. Chelsea is an English club, so is Everton. They play an English competition. Chelsea is an English club, Atlético a Spanish one and they face against each others in an European competition. It would be non-sense. Imagine a player loaned to a Chinese club that you could face in World Clubs Cup. Are you going to sign a clause for this potential situation ? Atlético - Chelsea was unlikely to happen. Chelsea - Everton was already confirmed as the 2 clubs play the same division.
3) Such a clause should be signed and valid only for one season. Each season is different and we cannot compare the situation now and 2 years ago.
Thibaut is only a goalkeeper. It's not like we were talking about Messi. Our strikers must be able to score against whoever the goalkeeper is : Neuer, Buffon, Courtois...

This clause has been signed under the influence of emotion because of the Supercup result that was a huge disappointment for Chelsea. Chelsea saw one of their players winning a trophy against them. Very rude for the club to watch this. Making that clause was probably a way to palliate the deception. And now it's a matter of ego because of one fear : the same scenario.
Now 2 years later things have changed. Thibaut Courtois won individual trophies and a Cup. Playing Champions League semi-finals is a unique chance for him. At only 21 ! How many 21 yo GK played a semi-final of Champions League ? When you think at Thibaut as an investment, you must make it fructify. Also, he will play under very high pressure : he cannot afford to make a mistake or suspicions will arise. It's also a very good opportunity for Chelsea to watch him live. And by Chelsea, I mean from the President to the supporters.
Concerning the "legal" aspect of this clause :
1) This is an UEFA competition. Their rules.
2) This is not a national competition. It's very common to see those clauses (for example in Belgium) in national championships because the loaned player is playing the same competition of his owner every week-end with the same objective : the title. See the Lukaku situation : he has the opportunity to score against competitors of Chelsea every week-end. But not against his club. Chelsea is an English club, so is Everton. They play an English competition. Chelsea is an English club, Atlético a Spanish one and they face against each others in an European competition. It would be non-sense. Imagine a player loaned to a Chinese club that you could face in World Clubs Cup. Are you going to sign a clause for this potential situation ? Atlético - Chelsea was unlikely to happen. Chelsea - Everton was already confirmed as the 2 clubs play the same division.
3) Such a clause should be signed and valid only for one season. Each season is different and we cannot compare the situation now and 2 years ago.
Thibaut is only a goalkeeper. It's not like we were talking about Messi. Our strikers must be able to score against whoever the goalkeeper is : Neuer, Buffon, Courtois...

This season, end of match in Real Sociedad. He literally saved 2 points for Atlético. That's how you recognize great goalkeepers : not much to do, but when there's a save to make, they do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6YGBtLjZT0
Of course, you can't forget the Copa Del Rey final :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ5OiP-BDMs
In January this year, 3 saves in a few seconds against Betis :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qydmdCdmB6Y
He was also one of the best Belgian player during the WC campaign. Without him, Belgium wouldn't have won 8 times. Belgium was submerged in the first 30 min in Serbia and he had one save to make, but very important, on a free-kick against Scotland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATjaW5tu0HI
He was also very regular in Genk and clearly helped them earning the title. And on the most decisive match, the last one they couldn't lose against Standard, he was just outstanding. Just look at this video, starting from 1:45 the save of the season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsvov6XUB1g
And finally, a compilation of last season :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOvMJ2MkPnk

This season, end of match in Real Sociedad. He literally saved 2 points for Atlético. That's how you recognize great goalkeepers : not much to do, but when there's a save to make, they do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6YGBtLjZT0
Of course, you can't forget the Copa Del Rey final :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ5OiP-BDMs
In January this year, 3 saves in a few seconds against Betis :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qydmdCdmB6Y
He was also one of the best Belgian player during the WC campaign. Without him, Belgium wouldn't have won 8 times. Belgium was submerged in the first 30 min in Serbia and he had one save to make, but very important, on a free-kick against Scotland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATjaW5tu0HI
He was also very regular in Genk and clearly helped them earning the title. And on the most decisive match, the last one they couldn't lose against Standard, he was just outstanding. Just look at this video, starting from 1:45 the save of the season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsvov6XUB1g
And finally, a compilation of last season :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOvMJ2MkPnk

This season, end of match in Real Sociedad. He literally saved 2 points for Atlético. That's how you recognize great goalkeepers : not much to do, but when there's a save to make, they do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6YGBtLjZT0
Of course, you can't forget the Copa Del Rey final :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ5OiP-BDMs
In January this year, 3 saves in a few seconds against Betis :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qydmdCdmB6Y
He was also one of the best Belgian player during the WC campaign. Without him, Belgium wouldn't have won 8 times. Belgium was submerged in the first 30 min in Serbia and he had one save to make, but very important, on a free-kick against Scotland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATjaW5tu0HI
He was also very regular in Genk and clearly helped them earning the title. And on the most decisive match, the last one they couldn't lose against Standard, he was just outstanding. Just look at this video, starting from 1:45 the save of the season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsvov6XUB1g
And finally, a compilation of last season :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOvMJ2MkPnk

This season, end of match in Real Sociedad. He literally saved 2 points for Atlético. That's how you recognize great goalkeepers : not much to do, but when there's a save to make, they do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6YGBtLjZT0
Of course, you can't forget the Copa Del Rey final :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ5OiP-BDMs
In January this year, 3 saves in a few seconds against Betis :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qydmdCdmB6Y
He was also one of the best Belgian player during the WC campaign. Without him, Belgium wouldn't have won 8 times. Belgium was submerged in the first 30 min in Serbia and he had one save to make, but very important, on a free-kick against Scotland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATjaW5tu0HI
He was also very regular in Genk and clearly helped them earning the title. And on the most decisive match, the last one they couldn't lose against Standard, he was just outstanding. Just look at this video, starting from 1:45 the save of the season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsvov6XUB1g
And finally, a compilation of last season :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOvMJ2MkPnk

This season, end of match in Real Sociedad. He literally saved 2 points for Atlético. That's how you recognize great goalkeepers : not much to do, but when there's a save to make, they do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6YGBtLjZT0
Of course, you can't forget the Copa Del Rey final :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ5OiP-BDMs
In January this year, 3 saves in a few seconds against Betis :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qydmdCdmB6Y
He was also one of the best Belgian player during the WC campaign. Without him, Belgium wouldn't have won 8 times. Belgium was submerged in the first 30 min in Serbia and he had one save to make, but very important, on a free-kick against Scotland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATjaW5tu0HI
He was also very regular in Genk and clearly helped them earning the title. And on the most decisive match, the last one they couldn't lose against Standard, he was just outstanding. Just look at this video, starting from 1:45 the save of the season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsvov6XUB1g
And finally, a compilation of last season :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOvMJ2MkPnk