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Mourinho Wants Courtois Back From Atletico Madrid As Replacement

Petr Cech was once the symbol of everything that was great about Chelsea, but now he is the symbol of everything that’s wrong with them.He’s probably the best goalkeeper the Premier League has ever seen. Cech, in his time he was unbeatable.

But he’s 31 now, and just like some of his team-mates from the glory days of Jose Mourinho’s first glittering spell in charge, he looks vulnerable.

At Crystal Palace it was a headed own goal from another grizzled old veteran in John Terry.

In Paris last night it was a jittery, bag of nerves performance from Cech. He is not unbeatable any more.

It started early in the first half when he came out to punch clear unconvincingly, and it carried on throughout the game.

Cech has not been at his best at times this season. But he has never been as bad as he was last night.

At fault for both of PSG’s second half goals, he has left his side needing a miracle in the second leg.

David Luiz may have bundled in the second goal, but Cech should have dealt with the cross from Ezequiel Lavezzi, who was outstanding.

If that was poor, the third was worse. Okay, it was a marvellous run from Javier Pastore, and Chelsea’s back four did not cover themselves in glory trying to stop him.
But every top keeper knows you should never get beaten at your near post, and to let one in like that at such a stage of the game, was criminal.A “joke” Mourinho called it – but no-one was laughing.

He is not a sentimental man, the Blues boss. He can be ruthless. He knows when a player’s time is up, whoever that is.

But he has a big decision to make in the summer now. Cech has been the mainstay of this Chelsea team for years. He is not any more.

It’s not as if Mourinho doesn’t have any alternatives either.

Thibaut Courtois is earning rave reviews on loan at Atletico Madrid. He is No. 1 for a good Belgium team that could go far at the World Cup.

But he doesn’t want to be stuck on the bench behind Cech at the Bridge next season. After last night, he may not have to.

Courtois is a wanted man. Atletico want to keep him. Real Madrid are also interested. He has years at the top ahead of him. But his time is now.
If Mourinho is brave he will see that. He wants Courtois back at Chelsea and knows he has a big future.It might just spell the end for Cech. That would have been unthinkable not so long ago. But times change.

Ashley Cole too could be gone in the summer. And Frank Lampard cannot go on forever either. He came on last night and looked well off the pace.

They were all Untouchables once – they are not any more.