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Can Thibaut Courtois’ Return Save Chelsea?

By Rucker Haringey

Jul 1, 2014; Salvador, BRAZIL; Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (1) against USA during the round of sixteen match in the 2014 World Cup at Arena Fonte Nova. Belgium defeated USA 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 1, 2014; Salvador, BRAZIL; Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (1) against USA during the round of sixteen match in the 2014 World Cup at Arena Fonte Nova. Belgium defeated USA 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chelsea’s season hasn’t gone according to plan through 12 matches. The same could be said for Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois. He’s missed the majority of the season through injury and hasn’t featured for Jose Mourinho since late August. Will his return be enough to save Chelsea’s season and Jose Mourinho’s job?

Courtois’ return is still a couple weeks away but Chelsea has to be counting down the days. It’s not as if Asmir Begovic has been bad covering for the Belgian International, but he just doesn’t have the same presence at the back of the Mourinho defense. For a side that has been a dumpster fire on the young season the return of any starter is important. Especially if that starter is one of the world’s top keepers.

Still, Chelsea is not just in need of slight upgrades here and there. They aren’t sixth in the table they are sixteenth. They need a sudden, dramatic change if they are going to climb back into the race for Champions League qualification. (Note, I think the Title Race ship has sailed). While Courtois is good, I don’t think he can be the catalyst for the drastic change necessary at Stamford Bridge.

The keeper position can sustain a club for a run of games, but not for an entire season. For example, David de Gea was great for Manchester United last year, but even his brilliance wasn’t enough to make them title contenders over the long haul. I could see Courtois solidifying the defense and winning some points for Chelsea on his own, but he’s still just a keeper. He can stand on his head to keep Chelsea in games, but it will take more than just Courtois to push forward and win games.

If we’re being honest, we also need to acknowledge that Begovic has outplayed Courtois on the young season. Granted, that’s in an extremely small sample size for Courtois, but it’s true nonetheless. It’s reasonable to expect Courtois to play significantly better than he did in his first three matches for Chelsea.

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Ideally he might even finish them all, unlike his run at the beginning of the year. Still, if he takes a while to regain his top form or falters a little bit, it will be too late for him to save Chelsea’s season.

Those that believe Courtois can do enough to save Chelsea after their horrid start have to be banking on the emotional effect of his return. They are betting that the comfort level he will provide the Chelsea back four will permeate the entire side. Maybe that’s possible, but it doesn’t seem likely. It strikes me as Chelsea fans grasping at straws in desperation.

Thibaut Courtois’ return will help Chelsea a great deal. He will solidify the defense and help restore a sense of normalcy around a club that’s been anything but through 12 matches.

If Chelsea fans are thinking his return will be enough to turn around their season they are set up to be sorely disappointed. Their problems run much deeper than just experiencing a moderate upgrade at keeper. Their dysfunction is much deeper than that.

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