Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been roundly criticised for his controversial comments ahead of the Champions League final by former Atletico Madrid teammate Koke.
The Belgium international, 30, spent three seasons on loan from Chelsea at Atletico between 2011 and 2014 but enraged the Spanish club's fans before Saturday night's showdown with Liverpool. In a confident declaration in his pre-match press conference, Courtois said: "They've [ Liverpool ] already played one final against Madrid in 2018.
"It was different for me. Real Madrid, when they play a final, they win it, and so now I'm on the right side of history." The shot-stopper was vindicated for his prediction as he produced a stunning, man-of-the-match performance to help Los Blancos clinch their 14th European crown, with Vinicius Junior sinking Liverpool by scoring the final's only goal.
However, Courtois' remarks came at the cost of damaging his legacy with Atletico, for whom he made 154 appearances while also winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Europa League. His comments were particularly hurtful for Atletico fans as they were defeated by local rivals Real in the 2014 Champions League final, for which he started in goal.
In the aftermath of the final, Atletico president Enrique Cerezo gave fans his blessing to rip out the commemorative plaque dedicated to Courtois outside their stadium, the Wanda Metropolitano. Every player to make more than 100 appearances for the club is recognised with such an honour but Cerezo said, per Marca: "If you want to remove Courtois' plaque, go with a pick and a shovel and remove it."
Within hours, it was reported the plaque had been torn out of Atletico's 'Walk of Legends'. In a further blow to Courtois, his former roommate has accused him of being "wrong" with his comments ahead of the final.
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Koke, who has spent his entire career with Atletico after joining at the age of eight, told Movistar: "Personally, I have a good relationship with him [Courtois]. We were roommates. From my point of view, I think he was wrong.
"You have to have a memory to know where you come from. I think he was not right but they are his words and you have to respect them. But it is normal for the Atleti fans to get angry in that sense because of the words,"
Turning his attention to the commemorative item which was ripped out, the 30-year-old midfielder added: "I've heard about the plaque. It seems that they listened to our president." Atletico are believed to have restored the plaque on Tuesday.
