Mourinho wants Cech to stay at Chelsea
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho credits Steven Gerrard, among others, for shaping his managerial style and admits trying to sign the Liverpool legend for Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid.
Petr Cech will not be going anywhere if Jose Mourinho gets his way, especially another Premier League club, even if it means upsetting the long-serving Chelsea goalkeeper.
This has been a difficult campaign for the 32-year-old, having been displaced as first-choice goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge after 10 seasons.
Mourinho has started Thibaut Courtois more often than not this term, leaving the Czech international understandably frustrated not to be playing a more regular role.
Arsenal have been strongly linked with a summer move, but Mourinho wants Cech to remain at Stamford Bridge and certainly does not want him going to another Premier League side.
“One thing is Jose Mourinho and another is Mr Abramovich and another thing is the board because the board includes a little bit of me, a little bit of other people,” Mourinho said.
“But if it was me, if it was my decision, my decision is Petr to stay. That’s it. It would be my decision for Petr to stay.”
Such a stance may upset Cech, but Mourinho said he would be willing to go against the will of the player for the betterment of the club.
“I think that the club is more important than the players and, as was proved this season, the club needs two very good goalkeepers,” he said.
“Without Petr this season I don’t think the club would be champions because he played six important matches in the Premier League and without these points we probably wouldn’t be champions.
“So 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 from this club.
“If the club decision is different to mine, I will accept with all the respect.”
Cech is likely to be reduced to a watching brief once again when Liverpool arrive on Sunday.
Chelsea are to get a guard of honour after wrapping up the title last week, but Mourinho is more interested in giving “dear enemy” Steven Gerrard the send-off he deserves.
The Portuguese tried to coax the Liverpool captain to Inter Milan and Real Madrid, and made two attempts to sign him for Chelsea.
Gerrard had appeared close to a move to west London in 2005, only to tell Mourinho his “red heart” prevented him.
“It was difficult, difficult to do it,” he said. “It was difficult to do. He wants to do it for a few football reasons but can’t do it. It is fantastic.”
Mourinho has no hard feelings against Gerrard and said he is happy the midfielder stayed loyal to Liverpool.
The Portuguese does, though, believe he could have done something England managers were unable to: make Gerrard and Frank Lampard play well together.
“I always thought that both were the best two number eights in Europe,” he said. “Between 2004 and 2012, they were the best two number eights.
“In my opinion and my vision with them you don’t play a number 10 you play with one number six and give the freedom to the two number eights because they score more goals than any number 10.
“So Lampard with 30 goals a season from midfield and Gerrard with 25 they score more goals together than a number 10 and the striker.”
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