Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard left Chelsea in the same summer, albeit in very circumstances.
Both play for Real Madrid now, but there will be a real contrast in how they’re received. Hazard won’t be playing, but if he was he would be applauded almost on his every touch as Chelsea fans look to thank him for years of loyal service.
Thibaut Courtois on his Stamford Bridge return: "I hope that they (supporters) don't boo me, but you never know.
“I hope it's a happy return to Stamford Bridge. We're now rivals. They'll want to win and the same goes for me. So I'm not expecting any applause from the fans." #CFC
— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) April 5, 2022
Courtois meanwhile is set to get a chorus of boos and bad blood, having forced a move by skipping training.
He said in Real’s press conference today that he “hopes it’s a happy return to Stamford Bridge” and that he “hopes they don’t boo”, but he knows just as well as us what’s coming when he steps out onto the pitch.
He got lucky last year as there were no fans in the stadium – but they always get their man in the end, and we wish we were there to join in.