'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic admits the signing of Petr Cech has turned Arsenal into genuine title contenders, The Guardian reports. The Serbian international jokingly added that he hoped the goalkeeper’s spell at Emirates turns out to be an unsuccessful one.
Cech ended his 11-year association with the Blues this summer but opted to remain in London and sign for Premier League rivals Arsenal. Matic says he is happy for the Czech Republic international as he got his wish.
Trending
"I am happy for him because he gets to stay in London, which for him and his family was very important. I wish him all the best," Matic said as reported by the Guardian.
Matic admitted that the move could, however, come back to haunt his side as he feels Cech's signing has made the Arsenal side considerably stronger.
“Petr is a great guy and a great keeper. It is going to be a very important signing for them,” Nemanja Matic said.
Matic hopes that Cech fails to shine the way he did at Stamford Bridge, but admits the chances of that are really slim.
“But I am not happy because of that. And I hope this season he does not perform as he did here for 10-11 years,” he said. “ (But) We know that he is very professional. He is one of the best keepers.”
Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic too had a similar tale to tell about Cech.
"This is football, he wanted to play," Ivanovic told reporters, according to The Guardian. "I can say only 500 times thank you to him. He gave us so much pleasure to enjoy the history of the club, winning trophies. As a person, we will miss him in the changing room. His decision was he wanted to play and I wish him all the best personally. Just try not to win any trophies!"
Matic not worried by City and United spending
Chelsea have been quiet in the transfer window with Jose Mourinho opting to make only like-for-like signings. Asmir Begovic was signed from Stoke City as Cech’s replacement while Falcao will be filling Drogba’s role. Matic though said that he is looking forward to welcome good players to the squad and that he is prepared to fight for his place.
“If some new players come, good players are always welcome and for good players there is always space so it doesn’t matter what is going to happen in this market … we are ready. We are ready to prepare with everyone and we will see,” Matic said.
Matic also spoke about the spending by their title rivals, especially Manchester City and United, but feels Chelsea have a good enough squad to compete for the title.
“We are ready for everything. I think last year Man United, City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham also had good teams, very good teams. I think our team was champion and a team that are champions are ready for everything. I think we have enough,” he said, according to The Guardian. “The manager said we have to win everything. So we know what we have to do."
Matic, in fact, hopes the addition of new players will prove as a hurdle for them.
"Maybe other teams will sign lots of players but that maybe worse for them. It is sometimes better to stay with the same team, for stability.
