Since the departure of Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho from Stamford Bridge earlier in the season, Chelsea’s high-profile players have hinted to follow in their former manager’s footsteps. After Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard admitting to consider their future at the London club at the end of the season, number one goalkeeper Petr Cech has spoken of his keeness to join Spanish giants Barcelona. The top-class Czech goalkeeper has been with the Blues since 2004(one of Jose Mourinho’s blue-eyed boys) and has recently signed a four-year contract extension earlier this year.
The contract extension was signed this February when Mourinho was at the helm at Chelsea. Although inexperienced manager Avram Grant has been able to put forward a consistent performance for Chelsea in all competitions, all sorts of speculations regarding the future of the club are doing the rounds. Critics say that there is no stability in the club under owner Roman Abramovich and that is where the problem lies. Jose Mourinho, with his charisma and managerial skills had been able to give an underrated Chelsea side the vision that saw them win consecutive Premiership titles. The uncertainty about Avram Grant’s club coaching future(the Israeli does not have the required Premiership and UEFA managerial qualifications) has made many players and fans pessimistic about Chelsea’s silverware winning prospects this season.
Another factor might have worked in Petr Cech’s inclination to leave the Bridge. Media reports suggest that Barcelona are considering to replace the underperforming Frank Rijkard with Jose Mourinho and if there is any thing to go by the reports we can certainly hope for some player movements from Stamford Bridge to the Nou Camp during the summer.
Chelsea are certainly concerned about their 25-year old goalkeeper’s admission of switching clubs. The club has hired new goalkeeping coach Christoph Lollichon from French club Rennes where he was particularly responsible for Petr Cech’s rise to fame. This could be a way to insist the Premiership’s best goalkeeper to stay at London. But life at Barcelona football club is a totally different ball game, particularly if managed by one Jose Mourinho.
Image Link: Eurosport
