London: Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has said that he will stay with the former Premier League champions next season despite the absence of Champions League football and interest from French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain.
“I have a contract for three years, so I will say 100 per cent. Rumours affect any club where things are going badly. People think the top players want to leave because they are not in the Champions League,” Courtois told Le Parisien.
“Everyone knows it is our fault we will not play in that competition next year. It has happened to Manchester United and to Dortmund, and it is heartbreaking. This year, we have not defended our title well like we needed to. We must regather our forces to return stronger and get back to the Champions League,” he added.
Chelsea’s defence of their title this season has been a disaster and they lie ninth in the table with two matches to go.
PSG on the other hand, have won their fourth consecutive domestic title.
Courtouis also denied that he was approached by PSG, adding that he is enjoying his stint in England and would like to stay on.
“I have never had any contact with PSG. I have played a lot against PSG recently — twice last season, again this season in a friendly and twice more in the Champions League this year. They are a good club who win their league easily. Me, I like playing in England,” the 23-year-old Belgium international said.
“Paris is a very good club but I am happy at Chelsea.”
