With Prague’s skyline as a backdrop, Petr Cech recalls the moment he knew his Chelsea career was over.
He remembers it well. March 1, at around 6pm under Wembley’s arch, having just notched his 12th major honour as a Blue.
‘The moment I knew I had to leave? After the Capital One Cup final,’ reveals Arsenal’s new goalkeeper.
‘I knew there weren’t many games left for me after that. We were out of the FA Cup and Champions League, so there were only league games, and I knew that was it. I knew then this wasn’t the way I wanted to have another season.
‘As tough as it was to make the decision, it became clear that it would be this way because I have the same motivation as I did 10 years ago. My commitment to training, the will to get better is the same. I don’t want to waste that sitting on the bench.’
There is no hint of sadness, however, though Cech admits that the decision to leave was the hardest of his career. But he has no regrets. Before losing his place to Thibaut Courtois as first-choice goalkeeper, Cech collected 13 winners’ medals in 11 years and will be remembered as a Chelsea legend.
Not that a minority of Blues fans, who have directed death threats at Cech, see it that way. He is paying no attention to those with short memories, insisting the abusers are not ‘true Chelsea fans’.
It is time, as Cech puts it, to start an exciting new chapter. If Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had his way, however, Cech would still be at Stamford Bridge — or at least not at Arsenal.
Mourinho knows this deal has the potential to bite him on the backside but once Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich gave 33-year-old Cech his blessing, the manager was helpless to prevent the deal.
On chelseafc.com, the club website, Mourinho said: ‘I support the owner’s decision. I always said I wanted him to stay but I understand Petr needed first-team football.
‘It is very rare to make a decision like this and for that reason I am proud of my club for making it. Petr’s success at this club will always to be remembered and we thank him for everything he did.’
Cech agrees his relationship with Mourinho has not soured. He says: ‘Jose had to make his decision about his first-choice goalkeeper. I spoke to Jose when I was leaving and he would have loved me to stay. He made his decision, now I’ve made mine. It will not change my opinion of him. For me, he is one of the best managers in the world.
‘Chelsea could have made me sit out the final year of my contract so I am grateful to Mr Abramovich for giving permission.’
Time will tell if that generosity will haunt Chelsea.
If Cech has his way, Chelsea may have to endure eight more years of watching him play for their arch-rivals. Cech has a four-year contract but believes he can play into his 40s.
He is not stopping there either. Cech is already looking forward to a managerial career, revealing he is virtually fully qualified to start top-level coaching, with only his Uefa Pro badge left to complete.
‘If I stay fit I can have seven or eight years at this level,’ says Cech, who will spend the next two days running a summer football academy for youngsters in Prague.
‘Retirement is not something I’m planning for yet. I have in my head that I could possibly do it (be a manager) and maybe do the training, the travelling and staying in hotels for another 20 years.
‘Maybe in eight years I will say I don’t want to watch football any more!’
If Cech leads Arsenal to the title next season, Mourinho will be the one who will not be able to watch. – Daily Mail