Jose relishing keeper battle, Costa off the mark for Blues
Print Edition
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho confirmed that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will continue to play but expects long-standing No. 1 Petr Cech to stay and fight for his place.
Belgium international Courtois, 22, got the nod to start the season after returning to Stamford Bridge from a loan spell with La Liga champion Atletico Madrid and helped Chelsea beat Burnley 3-1 away in their opening game.
“He is not my first choice for the rest of the season,” said Mourinho. “He was my first choice today and today he played well enough to be first choice for the next game.
“But when you have on your side a top professional like Petr and you don’t perform you are in trouble. I am not in trouble and Chelsea are not in trouble. They are safe because they are both fantastic goalkeepers.”
Cech has been Chelsea’s senior goalkeeper for a decade and Mourinho is not ready to end the 32-year-old’s career at the London club. “I want to keep him and the club wants to keep him. Hopefully he stays.”
“No player is happy when they’re not playing every game but I know Petr and he will not relax. He will not sit in a chair and say ‘I have no chance.’
“He will be the opposite so I am expecting him to go the training ground on Wednesday and to be a top professional and to fight to go back into goal.”
Courtois was beaten by a superb strike from Scott Arfield as newly promoted Burnley stunned Chelsea by taking the lead. But three goals in 17 minutes gave Chelsea the points thanks to Diego Costa’s debut goal for the club and further goals from Andre Schurrle and Branislav Ivanovic.
Costa was bought from Atletico Madrid for 32 million pounds (US$53 million). His arrival is a serious show of intent and Chelsea’s determination to dethrone reigning champion Manchester City.
“Diego was very important as he made our first goal and that was very important,” Mourinho said.
“Burnley are a direct and physical side but overall we had good control and we showed moments of class.”
Schuerrle’s goal was created by a superb pass from another new signing Cesc Fabregas, with Mourinho convinced the former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder is going to be a key player for his side as it looks to challenge for the Premier League title.
“Fabregas was our first choice for that position,” said Mourinho. “I know clearly the player he is because we have worked for so many years in the same league in England and in Spain. In Barcelona he was playing so many positions but he knows better than me his best position and he is giving us exactly what we need which is that stability and that quick thinking in midfield.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
