Petr Cech: Thibaut Courtois at Chelsea won't change anything

Petr Cech

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has revealed that he does not fear the competition Thiabut Courtois will bring to the club if the youngster is recalled from his loan spell at Atletico Madrid, report ESPN.

The Czech Republic keeper has been a stalwart at Stamford Bridge since his move from Rennes a decade ago, but his place could be under threat by 21-year-old Courtois next season.

However, despite intense speculation that Cech would struggle to adapt to life with another top goalkeeper in the squad having been unopposed as first choice for so long, the 31-year-old is adamant it would not change his approach.

“If, on the first day of pre-season, Thibaut Courtois is here, he is here. If he is not, he is not.

“It does not change anything. I will still have to do better than whoever else is here, to keep my place. It doesn’t change anything for me. You could ask John Terry or Gary Cahill about the very promising French central defender bought by the club [Kurt Zouma].

“If he comes back and he’s better than me, credit to him, well done to him, but who knows? I’m not afraid. I’m not a fool to think I’ve been here 10 years and I’ll be here another five, just because,” he declared.

Cech refuses to accept the belief that he is picked by Jose Mourinho purely on his reputation and will relish the chance to prove his worth should the Belgian youngster return to west London.

“I am not playing because my name is Petr Cech. I’m playing because I’ve been playing well and because the manager thinks it improves the team with me in goal. I’ve never had a manager who would just put me in the goal because everybody was used to seeing me there.

I’m not crazy to think in another 10 years I will just be playing. There will come a day when somebody comes along who is better than me. That’s it. But my everyday fight is to avoid that as long as I can. This is football life. Let’s see,” Cech insisted.

With at least a few years left at the top level, it is clear Cech is not going to wilt under the pressure and gives Courtois an easy route the first team, having been a reliable member of the Blues defence throughout a hugely successful period at the club.

Petr Cech has conceded just 24 goals and kept 14 clean sheets in 32 Premier League appearances for Chelsea this season.