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Thibaut Courtois has acknowledged having "clashes" with incoming Real Madrid manager José Mourinho, but expressed appreciation for the new coach's straightforward approach to dealing with his players.
Mourinho was officially confirmed as Madrid's next manager this month following Florentino Pérez's re-election win, and makes his return to the club he guided to one La Liga crown and one Copa Del Rey between 2010 and 2013.
The 63-year-old's second stint at the helm is far from universally welcomed, with numerous fans and commentators uneasy about the comeback of one of football's more combustible personalities.
Mourinho left under a cloud in 2013 following a silverware-free season in which he fell out with several key figures. In the 13 years since, the Portuguese tactician has claimed just one league title—with Chelsea in 2015—and has failed to last more than three years at any of the six clubs he has taken charge of.
Courtois Favors Mourinho's 'Direct' Style
Courtois, however, has embraced Mourinho's arrival and his well-known approach to managing players.
"Mourinho is a very direct coach. I'm the same," Courtois said at a pre-match press conference ahead of Belgium's World Cup opener against Egypt. "Our relationship has always been very good."
The goalkeeper, who previously worked under Mourinho during his time at Chelsea, acknowledged that he did have occasional disagreements with his manager, recalling one specific "clash."
"We also had our occasional clashes," Courtois revealed with a laugh. "For example, he dropped me against Everton because I had missed two crosses in the previous game against Aston Villa. It was his way of pushing me. The following week, I was back between the posts against West Ham and made five or six vital saves."
Mourinho History With Madrid Keepers
No tengo ningún problema con Mourinho. Me parece un gran profesional. No le quiero en el @realmadrid . Creo que otros entrenadores estarían mejor capacitados para entrenar en el club de mi vida. Opinión personal. Nada mas.
It is an encouraging sign that Courtois is receptive to Mourinho's tough-love philosophy. Back in 2013, the manager dropped club legend and captain Iker Casillas, choosing instead to field backup Diego López during a critical stretch of the season.
Mourinho publicly maintained that he simply rated López more highly as a goalkeeper, while Casillas had experienced a dip in form. Nevertheless, widespread speculation suggested the rift between manager and player extended well beyond what was happening on the pitch.
Back in May, as speculation surrounding Mourinho's appointment began to intensify, the now-retired Casillas posted on X: "I have no problem with Mourinho. He seems like a great professional to me. I don't want him at Real Madrid.
"I think other coaches would be better equipped to manage at the club of my life. Personal opinion. Nothing more."
Courtois Plans to Retire at Madrid
During the same press conference, Courtois, now 34, also revealed his desire to end his playing career at Real Madrid.
"For me, the ideal scenario would be to finish my career in Madrid," he said.
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"At Real Madrid, the policy is that, from the age of 30, contracts are renewed on a year-by-year basis, so I feel fairly relaxed about it. If I keep performing at the level I have been, a renewal won't be an issue. But Real Madrid is an elite club and, at some point, they will also need to consider a successor."
The two-time Champions League winner remains under contract at the Bernabéu until 2027.