Thibaut Courtois welcomes 'top coach' Mark van Bommel as new Belgium boss

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-bommel-mark/n14cbFT8/"]Van Bommel[/a] was appointed only weeks after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a]’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/belgium-GbB957na/spain-bLyo6mco/?mid=MHGPEKi5"]quarter-final exit[/a] at ‌the World Cup effectively cost [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/grimaldo-alex/6cAIrW5Q/"]Rudi Garcia[/a] his job with the French-born coach and the Belgian federation ‌agreeing not to renew his deal.[/p][p]Van Bommel was quickly appointed to ‌replace him and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/courtois-thibaut/MVExOq3n/"]Courtois[/a] said the former Dutch international would enjoy the respect of his ‌new charges.[/p][p][b]"It wasn't really a surprise because his name had been circulating ‌for quite a while,"[/b] Courtois told reporters at a sponsorship event.[/p][p]"I think he proved at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/antwerp/rVpPxw8H/"]Antwerp[/a] that he's a top coach. A lot of the players speak very positively about ‌him, so I'm looking forward to getting to know ⁠him.[/p][p][b]"The most important thing is that Van ‌Bommel himself played at the highest level and knows what it's like to play ​matches like these.[/b][/p][p]"That top-level experience is definitely a positive and it naturally earns a lot of respect from the players," he said.[/p][embed guid="7441090d-baca-40f2-871f-2f90b5f9eafa" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2081364684679045310" social-type="twitter" /][p]Whether the ​34-year-old Courtois himself will actually play under Van Bommel remains uncertain.[/p][p]After the World Cup, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] goalkeeper said that he would like to continue with ⁠Belgium but only if he ​was allowed to skip the upcoming Nations League campaign.[/p][p][b]"After the World Cup, I definitely still want to continue, but it will depend on the conversation I have with him,"[/b] Courtois said.[/p][p]"I'd like to have some rest during the Nations League and ‌we'll have to try to reach an agreement on that.[/p][p][b]"After that, I'll decide whether I want to continue or not."[/b][/p][p]Courtois also reflected on Belgium's World Cup exit, which came after he was injured in the last-eight tie against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] in Los Angeles on July 10 and his replacement [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lammens-senne/UFssg7X4/"]Senne Lammens[/a] made an error to gift eventual champions Spain a 2-1 win.[/p][p]Courtois later said he believed he could have continued and made the point again at the weekend.[/p][p][b]"I just felt that I couldn't take goal kicks anymore.[/b][/p][p]"A defender could have taken them instead. ‌During open play, I could still have made sideways passes.[/p][p][b]"But the coach said: 'We ​agreed that only players who are 100% fit will play.' Fine, no ‌problem."[/b][/p][p]Courtois said there was never any disagreement with Garcia, who was heavily criticised for many of his choices during the World Cup.[/p][p][b]"Of course, I was disappointed because it was against Spain and we were in a good rhythm. But the team is more important than I am.[/b][/p][p]"The decision was ⁠made and there was never any ⁠bad blood. I never wanted ‌to speak badly about him (Garcia)," he added.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]