Thibaut Courtois is currently spending his third consecutive season on loan at Atletico Madrid and just like the previous two seasons, he is enjoying every minute of it. His performances have already reached new heights, which have seen the 21-year old cement his place in the Belgian national squad and he looks to be the man in goal in the summer when Belgium participate in the World Cup.

Chasing hot on his heels is Simon Mignolet, who has himself impressed this season since joining Liverpool last summer. He too has upped his game in an attempt at displacing Courtois as Belgium’s first choice, and was recently reported as saying that he wishes to do just that between now and the end of the season.

However, the Express report that Courtois has not taken Mignolet’s comments lightly and has some harsh words of his own. He says that such comments are an ‘attack’ on him and the national team coach Marc Wilmots’ decision is not being respected. He said, “If someone says that he is unfairly left out of the Red Devils’ goal, I see that as an attack,”

“It shows that you do not accept the coach’s current choice and at the same time that you show no respect for the current number one.”

The war of words has already been raging between the two top-class custodians. Will Courtois retain his place, or will Mignolet manage to snatch it away from him?