Cech: Mourinho a great manager

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has hailed former manager Jose Mourinho amid speculation he is set to return to the club.

The Portuguese will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, and is widely expected to return to Stamford Bridge where he won two Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006.

And Cech would love the opportunity to replicate that success, should Mourinho return.

“In football, you never say never. Everything can change and everything can happen,” he said.

“He’s a great manager and I think everybody remembers how successful we were with him as a manager so if he reproduces that again it would be fantastic.”

Team-mate Demba Ba also paid tribute to the 50-year-old, and lauded him as one of the game’s greatest managers.

“You see his past, everything he’s won and what he brings to the team and players individually – of course he’s one of the best,” Ba added.

Mourinho would be a replacement for Rafael Benitez, who guided the club to third place in the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League title.

The Spaniard endured a torrid time with sections of the Stamford Bridge fans, but Cech feels the former Liverpool manager did well for the club.

“I think this was the aim when we changed the manager – to try to do as best we could,” Cech commented.

“I think that he worked hard from day one, he tried to do the best for the club and in the end he leaves with a European trophy which is great for him.”