Everyone laughed at us, says Courtois

Cape Town - Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has not forgotten the club's struggles of last season, after they reclaimed the Premier League title on Friday.

The Blues began the 2015/16 campaign as champions, but proceeded to capitulate in their title defence, and went on to finish outside the Champions League places in a disappointing 10th position.

Jose Mourinho struggled to get the best out of his players at the second time of asking, which lead to him being sacked in December - just eight months after his league triumph.

However, under Antonio Conte, the west Londoners have rediscovered their mojo, and reclaimed the title this week when they beat West Brom 1-0 at the Hawthorns.

"We had a bad season. We had a lot of critics, everybody in the team, a lot of laughter at us," Courtois told FourFourTwo. 

"It's not nice after a season when you have won the league. Some of the criticism was deserved, some not, but to bounce back in this way, to be champions again and to have been top a long way, is amazing.

"They said we did not want to play anymore, that we are lazy, and that is not true. We try to win our games and last year was just a one-off, especially for a team like Chelsea with the players we have here.

"Everybody was hurt in their pride and that is why we wanted to bounce back this season."

The Belgium international believes Conte's side are good enough to launch an assault on the Champions League next term, after a one-year absence.

"Obviously next year there is a new goal with the Champions League coming for us," Courtois added.

"It has been a few years since Chelsea have won it and I missed on one in the last minute, so a lot of players are hungry to win that as well."