Friday 21 November 2014 16:39, UK
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has dismissed reports linking goalkeeper Petr Cech with a move away from the club.
The 32-year-old has lost his place as first-choice goalkeeper to Thibaut Courtois this season and it had been suggested that he could be a transfer target for Arsenal and AC Milan.
Cech’s agent Viktor Kolar said last month: “He wants to be at a club that regularly plays in the Champions League and this is his highest aspiration. He wants to return to being a protagonist in a great squad at a great club."
But Mourinho says he has not received any notifications from Cech that he is unhappy about his role at Stamford Bridge and doubts the authenticity of the stories.
Petr has a contract for two more years, he's a fantastic professional. Not once has he knocked on my door to inform me about his desire to accept some proposal.
“On which Mickey Mouse website? On which Mickey Mouse blog?” Mourinho said. “Some websites don't even know where they get their stories. I have zero proposals for Petr Cech.
“Petr has a contract for two more years, he's a fantastic professional. Not once has he knocked on my door to inform me about his desire to accept some proposal. I promise you that what I’m telling you is the truth.”
Beautiful period
Chelsea face West Brom at Stamford Bridge this weekend, a fixture which is followed by a trip to Schalke in the Champions League and then a match at Sunderland in what is a relentless return to action after the international break.
"I go match by match,” said Mourinho. “We have eight plus two Champions League plus the Capital One cup. If we lose points it’s not complacency – it’s just football. It's now a different phase, but it doesn't mean that we can train more.
“I know it's very difficult for me, and especially for the players and their bodies, but I love it. I look forward to the marathon Christmas period. It’s a beautiful period.”
Chelsea have not lost a game this season and go into the West Brom game with a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Mourinho is confident his team will collect another three points at the weekend but is taking nothing for granted in terms of the advantage his side have over their title rivals.
"I expect to win, but I expect a very difficult match,” he said. “They have a good team, they can give us a very difficult match. They know that they can get a result against us, because they got it in the past."
"I don't compare ourselves with others. We have a situation now, but our distance to our opponents tomorrow can increase or decrease.
“I compare us with the next opponent. In this moment I don't think about being champion, I just think about winning West Brom."
