Mourinho urges Cech to stay at Chelsea

The Czech Republic international has been heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer, but the Portuguese has urged him to remain at the club.

Jose Mourinho has urged goalkeeper Petr Cech to stay at Chelsea, insisting the club would not have won the Premier League title without him.

Cech has been heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge - Mourinho recently admitted that the goalkeeper's future is out of his hands - with both Manchester United and Arsenal said to be interested in the 32-year-old.

Mourinho, though, believes that Cech has been a key cog in the Blues’ title-winning squad, despite only making a handful of appearances in 2014-15.

“He’s a legend of this club but he’s a legend at 32 years old, which is a very young legend for a goalkeeper. One of our strengths this season was to have the two best goalkeepers in the Premier League,” he told reporters after Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Sunderland on Sunday.

“I don’t know if we could be champions if he hadn’t played these seven matches. His contribution was decisive.”

The Portuguese admits, however, that he is unsure whether Cech will stay at the club beyond this summer.

“The reality is that Petr played lots of matches in every competition so we made him feel important. I can cope with it, for me it’s no problem to have both but obviously I don’t know what Petr is thinking."

Mourinho also praised the impact of Thibaut Courtois, who usurped Cech as Chelsea’s No.1 upon returning from his loan spell with Atletico Madrid last sumer, and believes that the Czech's influence on the 23-year-old has been invaluable. 

“We have to say Thibaut is an amazing goalkeeper and a big champion and had an amazing season for us,” he added.

“He focuses on his work, on his job. Petr in training and in the dressing room is this guy... he’s focused on his contribution and he was always there for me and the team.

“Also for Thibaut it’s a privilege to have Petr with him.”