“But Manchester United missed it as well and they stayed the same, so it depends how the club copes. When you have a bad year, the next year is most important and we have to try to fight back and gain that spot again at the top.”

Courtois experienced the galvanising effect the much-criticised Europa League can have at a club while he was at Atlético Madrid and believes the competition is still worth qualifying for with the Champions League virtually out of reach.

“At Atletico, in my first six months we were not doing well and then they sacked [Gregorio] Manzano and [Diego] Simeone came, and, in the end, we won the Europa League and moved up the table,” said Courtois. “It’s a bit similar to what’s happening this year here

“If you can have the Europa League, it might still be nice to win. Once you are out of the group stages and you get to the quarter-final, you will face big teams as well. So it can still be a nice trophy if you reach the final.”

Courtois thought about prioritising volleyball, which both of his parents played at semi-professional level, over football as an 11-year-old and also has a keen interest in tennis that has seen him strike up a friendship with Andy Murray.