Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has spoken for the first time about Chelsea’s controversial sale of goalkeeper Petr Cech to Blues rivals Arsenal.
“Petr has been a great servant for Chelsea for 11 years and helped this club to win almost everything there is to win,” the Portuguese said on the club’s official website.
“I always said I wanted him to stay, but I understand Petr needed to move on and play first-team football every week. Sometimes you have to respect the wishes of someone who has earned so much respect with his service and actions for your club.
“I support the owner’s decision to honour the player in this way. It is very rare in football to make a decision like this and for that reason I am proud of my club for making it.
“There are not many clubs in the world big enough to make that decision. Petr’s success at this club will always to be remembered and we thank him for everything he did.”
