10:30PM BST 08 May 2015
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Jose Mourinho has publicly admitted for the first time that he will oppose the expected sale this summer of Petr Cech, especially to an English rival like Arsenal, but said that he is not in control of Chelsea’s final decision.
“One thing is Jose Mourinho, and another is Mr Abramovich, and another thing is the board because the board is a little bit of me and a little bit of other people,” said Mourinho.
“If it was me, if it was my decision, the decision is Petr to stay. That’s it. It would be my decision for Petr to stay.” Even against his will? “Yes.”
Cech is a Chelsea legend
“I think that the club is more important than the player and as was true this season the club needs two very good goalkeepers,” added Mourinho. “Without Petr this season I don’t think the club would be champions because he played six important matches in the Premier League.
“For me, decision number one, Petr will stay. After that, second point to go but not in England. The option I don’t want is for him to go to an English club. But, I repeat, I am just the manager and he means so much for this club and what he did in this club I think he deserves everything. If the club decision is different to mine I will accept it.”
Mourinho has previously handled questions relating to Cech by saying that special club legends deserve a particular say over their future. Cech has only one year remaining on his contract and, having been second choice for most of the season to Thibaut Courtois, is expected to ask to leave. Arsenal are interested in adding a goalkeeper this summer and Cech is settled in London and believed to be interested in that possible option. There has also been a clear sense that Cech is under the impression that Chelsea will allow him a choice over his future.
Thibault Courtois (right) is Chelsea's current No 1
Mourinho’s remarks, then, are intriguing. It could represent the start of an effort on his part to convince owner Roman Abramovich and the board to keep Cech or at least only wait for a suitable offer from abroad. Equally, there is a theory that Mourinho is sufficiently concerned by the possibility of Cech joining Arsenal to feel that he should publicly distance himself from that scenario.
Mourinho also said that, given the likely improvement of other clubs, Chelsea must also get better this summer. “In England if we are exactly the same it is not enough,” he said. He also stressed again that he wanted to stay as Chelsea manager for as long as Abramovich wants him and that he would not be asking for a new contract after winning two trophies this season.
