Chelsea FC Goalkeepers – Thibaut Courtois or Petr Cech?

The situation in which Petr Cech will find himself between the posts for the opening game is centred upon the mindset of Mourinho. Last season Mourinho was willing to pass of questions about the young and inexperienced squad he had by labelling it a transitional season. In his infamous ‘little horse’ analogy he referred to Chelsea as a horse that needed feeding and was not fully grown. If he feels the need to turn this new season into one where Chelsea are the horse out in front, he may well opt for the security of Cech in goal, in favour of Courtois who is unproven in the Premier League.

A quick YouTube search of Petr Cech will have you sitting for hours watching compilations of incredible saves he has made for Chelsea down the years. He has been an incredible servant to the club and as an added bonus comes across as a really good person. His scrum cap that he wears every game is such an icon that it seems strange when you see Chelsea play with a keeper who is not wearing one. Criticisms that he never reached his best after the head injury are harsh, but I know I’m not alone in having this nagging feeling that he is ever so slightly less consistent nowadays.

When making an ultimate verdict on Cech, I had to detach the emotional rationale behind the decision, which a certain Jose Mourinho is so good at doing as we have seen with previous members of the old guard. I think Cech has to now be second choice, just as his arrival over a decade ago signalled the end of Carlo Cudicini’s place in the team.