Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho does not want to sell the vastly experienced Petr Cech, but if he is forced to let the goalkeeper leave he would prefer it is to a club in another country, while at the same time imploring owner Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich not to sell any of his Premier League winning team.
Since Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge in 2013 he has had to sell Juan Mata, David Luiz and Andre Schurrle to comply with the new Financial Fair Play rules.
The Blues boss now says that players should not be sold so that the club can build on this season’s success while also backtracking on what he had previously said about the 32-year-old Cech being allowed to leave.
“If it was me? If it was my decision? The decision is Petr to stay. That’s it. It would be my decision for Petr to stay.”
Asked ‘Even against his will?’, Mourinho confirmed “Yes.
“I think that the club is more important than the player and, as was true this season, the club needs two very good goalkeepers. Without Petr this season, I don’t think the club would be champions because he played six important matches in the Premier League and without these points we probably wouldn’t be champions.
“For me, decision No. 1 is that Petr will stay. After that, the second point would be for him to go – but not in England. The option I don’t want is for him to go to an English club.
“But I am just the manager and he means so much for this club and what he did in this club, I think he deserves everything from this club. One thing is Jose Mourinho, another is Mr Abramovich and another thing is the board, because the board is a little bit of me and a little bit of other people.
“If the club decision is different to mine, I will accept it.”
Mourinho added he is no longer happy to keep selling assets to balance the books.
He said: “The most important thing is to keep the squad – keep the players we have. In my previous squad, I had players I was happy to sell and make money with them. In this squad, there are no players that I’m happy to do that with. So we are not selling many players. I want to keep my important players.
“We will try to improve the squad. Other clubs will strengthen. In other leagues you can stay the same and retain the title but in England, no. You must improve.
“This squad next season, I think will not be good enough.”
He said: “The most important thing is to keep the squad – keep the players we have. In my previous squad, I had players I was happy to sell and make money with them. In this squad, there are no players that I’m happy to do that with. So we are not selling many players. I want to keep my important players.
“We will try to improve the squad. Other clubs will strengthen. In other leagues you can stay the same and retain the title but in England, no. You must improve.
“This squad next season, I think will not be good enough.”
