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Thibaut Courtois laments officiating, sad ending in Chelsea’s FA Cup loss to Arsenal

By George Perry

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal scores his sides first goal past Thibaut Courtois of Chelsea during the Emirates FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on May 27, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal scores his sides first goal past Thibaut Courtois of Chelsea during the Emirates FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on May 27, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond - The FA/The FA via Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s loss to Arsenal left a particularly sour taste with Thibaut Courtois. The multiple officiating errors contributing to Alexis Sanchez’s opening goal and closing the season with a loss make it difficult for the goalkeeper to enjoy the Blues’ many successes.

Thibaut Courtois had the best angle and perspective to know that Aaron Ramsey was offsides and interfering with the play as Alexis Sanchez scored Arsenal’s first goal. More than that, Courtois’ movement and body language should have been a dead give-away for match official Anthony Taylor.

As Sanchez flicked (with his arms, mind you) the ball over Nemanja Matic and Chelsea’s defensive line, Thibaut Courtois ran out towards the ball. Aaron Ramsey saw the pass and ran back towards Courtois. Courtois did not know if Ramsey or Sanchez would be the ball carrier, as the ball landed equidistant from the two Arsenal men. He hesitated and shuffled as he saw he was on a collision course with Ramsey.

Courtois faced a common goalkeeping scenario. Do I go in hard against the ball-carrier and risk him rounding me with a quick touch? Or do I cut down the angle and get big?

"The first goal should never have been allowed – it was clearly a hand ball and then Ramsey was offside because he was interfering in play… If Ramsey was not in an offside position, I could go out and touch the ball but I had to stop because he was there. – Chelsea FC"

Courtois’ movement reflected that decision process. He started in one direction, then abruptly shifted to another direction and position. The mere fact that he had to make that decision proves that Aaron Ramsey interfered with the play. Ramsey interfered with Courtois’ ability to clear the ball from Sanchez, and with Courtois’ ability to read the play.

Related Story: Series of errors sinks Chelsea's hope of domestic double at the FA Cup

If Ramsey had stayed where he was when Sanchez sent the ball in, the goal would be valid. Ramsey stopped still and put his arms up only after he had interfered with Courtois’ movement, and after signalling that he was part of the play.

From his position at the right side of the top of Chelsea’s box, Anthony Taylor may not have had the angle to see where the ball landed relative to the players and – crucially – their movement. His linesman, though, had the angle. This is likely why the linesman kept his flag up even though Ramsey did not touch the ball. For whatever reason, Taylor overruled his assistant.

"It’s not a good feeling now… We wanted to end on a high, now we feel sad. Winning is everything so this is hard to face but we have to try to forget it."

Thibaut Courtois once before won the league but ended the season with a tournament loss. In 2014 Atletico Madrid won La Liga, but lost the Champions League final a week later.

Next: Eden Hazard, N'Golo Kante top Chelsea's end-of-season awards

Like the rest of Chelsea’s squad, Courtois will need some time to put the FA Cup final in context. Along with the Premier League title, he won the league’s Golden Glove award with 16 clean sheets. He is also optimistic that he will stay with Chelsea and not return to Atletico Madrid. “I hope they reward me with a good contract then there will be no doubt I will sign it.”

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