Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has claimed that great players must believe they are the best in the world in order to stay at the top of their game.
The Belgian, whose contract negotiations have stalled at Stamford Bridge, is wanted by Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain and is regarded as one of the top shot-stoppers in world football.
His current deal at the west London club expires in 2019 and boss Antonio Conte has started to a draw up a list of replacements, including Stoke No 1 Jack Butland.
Thibaut Courtois has claimed that great players must believe they are the best in the world
The Belgian, regarded as one of the best in the world, is wanted by Real Madrid and PSG
Replacing the Belgium international would be no easy task for any manager as he, and most of the footballing fraternity, believe he could stake a claim to be the one of the best goalkeepers currently plying his trade.
‘You have to have the self-belief that you are the best, that’s important to have that mindset,’ Courtois told Sky Sports.
‘Obviously there are other great goalkeepers, so it’s not for me to judge who is the best, but obviously I feel the best because that has to be your mindset.
‘I feel the best because that has to be your mindset,’ said the 25-year-old shot-stopper
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‘I think every great player in the world, and every great goalkeeper in the world will have that mindset, and it should be like that. I try to work every day very hard to become better and better.’
Chelsea currently sit in third place, 11 points behind early pace-setters Manchester City.
The Blues stormed away with the Premier League title during Conte’s maiden campaign in charge at Stamford Bridge.
And Courtois believes Chelsea must fight tooth and nail from now until the end of the season if they are to hold onto their crown.
‘I think all games coming up are must-win games, I think if you are 11 points behind City, you have to keep winning and hope they lose some points,’ Courtois added.
‘For us they are must-win games. If you want to play to win the title, those games you have to win, of course.
‘I think the year after winning a title is always harder, but I think we are showing that we want to try to keep the title.
‘Obviously you can see there is one team better than the rest, that you have to admit, and you just have to try to keep winning your games.’
Chelsea must fight hard from now until the end of the season to keep the title, Conte believes