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Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois says he hopes “fans can accept me” after ending his exile from international football this week.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Real Madrid player, 32, is back in his country’s squad for the first time since falling out with former Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco in June 2023, leading to him leaving a Euro 2024 qualifying training camp<\/a>.<\/p>\n Belgium were beaten by France in the last 16 of last summer’s European Championship, with Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels starting all four of their games in Germany.<\/p>\n With Rudi Garcia now in charge of the national team, Courtois looks set to play in the upcoming Nations League play-off against Ukraine.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Courtois accepted he could have handled his fall-out with Tedesco better, and has taken time to explain matters to his fellow Belgium players.<\/p>\n “There were a lot of misunderstandings, half-truths, so I was able to explain what happened,” he said. “The team-mates were able to ask their questions.<\/p>\n “I’m relieved that we were able to talk everything out. Everything is clear and now we’re looking ahead. I know I made my mistakes. At that time, I wasn’t mentally 100% ready to play.<\/p>\n “After a long season, you sometimes have impulsive reactions and that was not smart of me – that was not the best thing for the team and the supporters.<\/p>\n “I still think the [Belgian] Football Association could have handled it better afterwards, but I also suffered a serious knee injury. I wasn’t ready to play at the European Championship anyway. And when a relationship with a coach breaks down it’s also difficult.”<\/p>\n