Courtois or Cech? Jose Mourinho will wait until Sunday to make Chelsea's No 1 decision
Courtois played 90 minutes in Chelsea's final pre-season game
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Your support makes all the difference.Jose Mourinho failed to speculate on the battle raging between for Chelsea’s No 1 shirt.
Chelsea played their final pre-season game last night, with the Blues running out 2-0 winners over Real Socidad, thanks to two goals in the opening seven minutes from Diego Costa.
Thibaut Courtois played the full 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge, but the Portuguese boss said that was not an indication that it would be the young Belgian starting in goal when Chelsea face Burnley at Turf Moor on Monday.
Before last night’s match, Courtois had played just 45 minutes of pre-season, because of an extended break after the World Cup and a niggling injury.
“I played Thibaut for 90 minutes because he was injured and didn’t play last weekend,” Mourinho told the club website.
“Petr played two matches in Turkey and the first half against Ferencvaros. Since he arrived Courtois has only played 45 minutes against Werder Bremen, he needs to play.”
Cech has started five of Chelsea’s 10 pre-season games and come on as a substitute in another two. The long-serving keeper, 32, has kept more than 200 clean sheets in his Chelsea career, helping the club to three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, the Europa League and the Champions League – where he saved an Arjen Robben penalty in extra-time and two in the shootout.
Courtois, 22, has just spent the last three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid where he has grown to become one of the best in the world. He was instrumental in helping Diego Simeone’s side win La Liga for the first time in 18 years and reach the final of the Champions League, his performances allowing the side to the become arguably the best defensive team in Europe last year.
Mourinho added: “The fact Courtois played 90 minutes wasn’t me saying he’s first choice for Monday, it’s because he didn’t play the last three matches.
“The players don’t know (who’s first choice). When will I tell them? On Sunday.’
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