BlueLion.

Petr Cech is set for further heartache as José Mourinho looks set to recall Thibaut Courtois to the starting line-up against Liverpool. Cech, the greatest goalkeeper in Chelsea's illustrious history with 226 clean sheets for the club, is just eleven appearances short of 500 games for the Blues and has been in spectacular form this season. But having been the Blues' undisputed number one for more than a decade, the Czech international has found first team football harder to come by considering the form of Courtois. Despite starting the campaign as back-up to Courtois, who spent three successful years on loan with Atletico de Madrid, the Czech international has conceded just five goals in well over 1,000 minutes this season, at a mammoth rate of one goal conceded every 202.4 minutes. Having kept six clean sheets in his eleven appearances this season Cech is showing no signs of a decline, and has kept three successive shut-outs as the Blues have bounced back brilliantly from derby disappointment against Tottenham on New Year's Day. But Courtois, who was promised when he rejoined Chelsea in the summer after a three-year spell on loan at Atletico Madrid that he would play in the all the big games this season, looks set to earn a recall after a three-game absence. The Belgian international broke a finger in that defeat at Spurs, and considering the quality on the bench in Cech, his injury was not risked and has been allowed to fully heal. But that is of no consequence to Cech, who has been the Blues' designated stopper in the Champions League and domestic cup competitions so far this season. The Chelsea manager maintains he is blessed with two of the world’s best goalkeepers, allowing him to rest Courtois until he had completely recovered from the fracture. “I have the two best in the league,” said Mourinho in the build-up to Saturday’s game at Swansea. “Yes, Courtois is fit but not 100%, but how many players are during the season? There is always pain here and there, a swollen ankle or something like that. Lots of keepers have strapping". Chelsea assistant manager Steve Holland recently went on record as saying that resting Courtois to allow his injury to heal was not a difficult decision. "If it had been vital to play he [Courtois] could but when we had Petr Cech as a replacement it was a no-brainer". But with that injury now seemingly no longer debilitating Courtois' performances in training, the Belgian looks set to replace Cech in goal for Tuesday's Capital One Cup semi-final first leg at Anfield. Courtois has already featured against Liverpool this season in the Blues' 2-1 victory at Anfield in October, and is touted to make his return to the side at the same venue. Cech, meanwhile, is likely to feature in Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie at Stamford Bridge against Bradford. The Czech goalkeeper needs just five clean sheets to overtake David James' record of 170 shut-outs in the competition, though time is running out with a summer move looking increasingly likely.

Petr Cech is set for further heartache as José Mourinho looks set to recall Thibaut Courtois to the starting line-up against Liverpool. Cech, the greatest goalkeeper in Chelsea's illustrious history with 226 clean sheets for the club, is just eleven appearances short of 500 games for the Blues and has been in spectacular form this season. But having been the Blues' undisputed number one for more than a decade, the Czech international has found first team football harder to come by considering the form of Courtois. Despite starting the campaign as back-up to Courtois, who spent three successful years on loan with Atletico de Madrid, the Czech international has conceded just five goals in well over 1,000 minutes this season, at a mammoth rate of one goal conceded every 202.4 minutes. Having kept six clean sheets in his eleven appearances this season Cech is showing no signs of a decline, and has kept three successive shut-outs as the Blues have bounced back brilliantly from derby disappointment against Tottenham on New Year's Day. But Courtois, who was promised when he rejoined Chelsea in the summer after a three-year spell on loan at Atletico Madrid that he would play in the all the big games this season, looks set to earn a recall after a three-game absence. The Belgian international broke a finger in that defeat at Spurs, and considering the quality on the bench in Cech, his injury was not risked and has been allowed to fully heal. But that is of no consequence to Cech, who has been the Blues' designated stopper in the Champions League and domestic cup competitions so far this season. The Chelsea manager maintains he is blessed with two of the world’s best goalkeepers, allowing him to rest Courtois until he had completely recovered from the fracture. “I have the two best in the league,” said Mourinho in the build-up to Saturday’s game at Swansea. “Yes, Courtois is fit but not 100%, but how many players are during the season? There is always pain here and there, a swollen ankle or something like that. Lots of keepers have strapping". Chelsea assistant manager Steve Holland recently went on record as saying that resting Courtois to allow his injury to heal was not a difficult decision. "If it had been vital to play he [Courtois] could but when we had Petr Cech as a replacement it was a no-brainer". But with that injury now seemingly no longer debilitating Courtois' performances in training, the Belgian looks set to replace Cech in goal for Tuesday's Capital One Cup semi-final first leg at Anfield. Courtois has already featured against Liverpool this season in the Blues' 2-1 victory at Anfield in October, and is touted to make his return to the side at the same venue. Cech, meanwhile, is likely to feature in Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie at Stamford Bridge against Bradford. The Czech goalkeeper needs just five clean sheets to overtake David James' record of 170 shut-outs in the competition, though time is running out with a summer move looking increasingly likely.

Pretty good looking productivity from where I'm sat!

This!

Do what I did with my Mata shirt and iron off the letters

Ask before advertising. And this discussion has already taken place in the player's thread. Locked.

Whenever you sign into the site, delete, don't just "mark as read" all your notifications.

After clearing out both Silva and Aguero in training.

That isn't my point mate. My point is if there are a bout of injuries to our small squad, we'll be calling up youngsters onto the bench, and the first team won't get rests, even against the likes of the Watfords and Bradfords of this world.

One of my favourite U2 tracks; "MLK".

Absolutely 100% agreed.

Dammit man he's doing his best to help us!

Can I just say, for the benefit of everyone saying Salah isn't good enough. In 2012, we fielded THIS bench against Manchester United in a 3-3 draw: Now tell me having players like Salah and Schurrle in the squad is a waste of time.

He was sat with a pair of gloves, wearing a sweater in front of a fire, with his skis up against the wall, whilst drinking pina coladas, wearing sunglasses, shorts and a fair of hideous bright yellow flip flops

If he's gone to Real, that means one of the big names is off. Bale to United rumours true, I wonder? Or is Ronaldo "coming home"?

#AgentFrank

Familiarity, in this instance, breeds content. As I've said in this thread numerous times, it's a psychological thing. Cech has a decade's experience of doing this at the top level for Chelsea, so it's no surprise his inclusion in the side brings about a sense of calmness.

And he got in Garth Crooks' team of the week - although to do that all you have to do is play for Liverpool or Manchester United.

Merry Christmas:

We don't have to win. We just cannot lose. It is all or nothing for City; they can't settle for a point now.

You make a good point in saying that Costa would stifle Destro's development. But would having Falcao not also be detrimental? We saw how desperate Abramovich was to see Torres actually at least break even in terms of goals-to-transfer fee, but he never got to that level, because he had lost the yard of pace necessary to operate in this league as the striker he is; an on-the-shoulder-of-the-last-man forward. Costa has a different skills set which is more suited. From what I've seen of Falcao in this league, he, like Torres, hasn't got the pace to play his natural game here. It might work in Spain where the higher defensive line leaves yards of space to run into, but not here. And you don't have to be apologetic that we are having a debate, if everyone had the same opinions then the world would be boring.

Chelsea manager José Mourinho has opened up about his attempts to sign Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in 2005. Ahead of tomorrow's Capital One Cup semi-final first leg between the two sides, Mourinho has spoke of his admiration and respect for one of the finest midfielders in Premier League history. In what was regarded as a much-touted move back in the summer of 2005, it appeared all but confirmed that Gerrard would trade Anfield for Stamford Bridge in a mega-money deal. In July of that year, Liverpool released the following statement: "Steven has told us he will not accept our offer of an improved and extended contract because he wants to leave". Chelsea then said: "Following comments from Rick Parry, Chelsea can confirm the club has made an offer to Liverpool for the transfer of Steven Gerrard". Liverpool, then European champions, and Chelsea, the defending Premier League title winners and League Cup winners, were alleged to have agreed terms, but Liverpool turned down an astonishing £32 million transfer offer. Gerrard stunned Chelsea by pulling out of the deal at the last minute, but the scars remain from a saga he says left him "suffocated by stress". Chelsea eventually sought out a world-class midfielder in Michael Essien, and then Michael Ballack the following summer. Ballack, a free transfer from Bayern Munich, left Chelsea in 2010 after 166 games for the club, scoring 25 goals. With the Blues he won the Premier League in 2010, the League Cup in 2007, three FA Cups (2007, 2009, 2010), and the Community Shield in 2009. Essien's Chelsea career was even more glamorous - in 256 games he also netted 25 times, but Essien's trophy haul boasted two Premier League titles (2006, 2010), four FA Cups (2007, 2009, 2010, 2012), the League Cup once in 2007, the Community Shield (2009) and also the UEFA Champions League in May 2012. Yet regardless of their efforts, Mourinho said yesterday that Chelsea did "everything to try to sign" Gerrard. "I was dreaming of Claude Makelele, Gerrard and Frank Lampard in midfield. We were playing in a proper triangle without a number 10 and playing Maka in front of the defenders. Me, Mr Abramovich and Peter Kenyon at that time, we dreamed of that. "His people were open to him joining a top side like Chelsea. "But to me personally he never said he would come. Never". This revelation is something that will certainly shock the many Liverpool fans who burned their Gerrard shirts in front of the Shankly Gates when it was announced the clubs were in negotiations. According to Mourinho, the decision made by Gerrard "was right. He was always a red". But Mourinho, who describes Gerrard as an opponent he has always admired and respected, says he does not like Chelsea fans to poke fun at the player following his slip at Anfield last year in a match which saw Liverpool's title chances disappear. "The song that my fans have I don't like at all", Mourinho said. "A couple of times it is good fun but to go and go and go, especially with a player like him who deserves respect, I don't think you don't need that". We're just going to have to agree to disagree on that one, José. Click here to view the article

To be fair, he was spot on with this. The biggest threat to City for second place

If bringing back Thorgan is a condition in Eden's contract then I'm all for it

Surely, surely, with how shit Villa are, there will never be a better chance to end the Villa Park hoodoo for José. Fuck, we have to if we want to win this league.