adminMourinho has praised Petr Cech for the goalkeeper’s reaction to being left out of Chelsea’s opening Premier League game of the season.
Cech, the club’s No 1 since arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2004, sat on the bench during the 3-1 opening day victory at Burnley, with Thibaut Courtois named in the starting line-up.
The Czech international’s omission has raised doubts about the player’s future at the club and Mourinho admits Cech is unlikely to be happy with the situation.
But the manager insists he wants Cech to stay, and insists the keeper will play a more prominent part in his plans when Chelsea’s Champions League and Capital One cup campaigns begin.
“He is a top professional,” Mourinho said of Cech on Friday. “He is working as always, behaving as always, being a group man as always, being a Chelsea person as always.
“Is he totally happy? I don’t believe. But it’s not just him. It’s everyone who didn’t start the game,” the Portuguese added.
“This period is hard for them, for me, because it’s a period with one match per week.
“So for the first three matches, they clearly feel that some are playing more and some don’t.
“But in September, with the Capital One (League) Cup, Premier League, Champions League, three matches a week, everyone playing, rotation, resting, decisions… that’s an easier period for them and an easier period for me in the sense everyone feels much better.
“Now, in these first three matches, some are not playing and they feel more (bad). But Petr’s behaviour is fantastic, and that’s important.”
Chelsea will bid to make it two wins out of two when newly-promoted Leicester visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday. — AFP
derick.khumalo