Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech wants manager Jose Mourinho to
stay at the club and believes winning trophies will help keep him
there.
The Czech Republic keeper, recently returned after three months out
with a skull fracture, steered clear of commenting on tensions
between Mourinho and the Chelsea board during a news conference
before Sunday's FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest.
But with Mourinho's future under discussion almost daily in the
British press, he said at the club's training ground: "I think it's
important to keep the best manager and best players at the club."
The 24-year-old is focusing on what happens on the pitch. "It's not
in my hands to change something in the club," he added.
"We want to do the best for our manager and for the club and you
want to do the best for yourself too... But of course for the
manager it's a good help if you keep winning too," said Cech, who
returned to action last weekend wearing a protective skull
cap.
Cech conceded two goals at Liverpool in the Premier League, in his
first game back but kept a clean sheet in Chelsea's 4-0 win over
lowly Wycombe in the League Cup semi-final last Tuesday. Chelsea,
who trail Manchester United by six points after some indifferent
recent Premier League form, are still in competition for four
trophies, including the Champions League.
Cech said Mourinho had been his staunchest supporter since he and
the Portuguese arrived in 2004. "When he came to the club I arrived
as a new player and he gave me the confidence to play and he's been
doing the same for two and a half years. This for me is the best
form in my career. And when you have the manager on your side and
he trusts you it's important."
Cech started the season with a shoulder problem and was taken to
hospital last October after a sickening collision with Reading
winger Stephen Hunt. He needed surgery on his skull but says he is
now fully recovered.
"I feel really good," he said. "In terms of physical strength and
speed and reactions I might be even better than before because I've
been really working hard for a long period and it's made me
stronger. "I have not even a little doubt about the injury. I just
don't think about it," he said.
