PETER CECH WANTS SOME MORE JOSE MOURINHO MAGIC AT CHELSEA

ABOVE: Petr Cech is looking forward to Jose Mourinho's return to Chelsea

Jose is a great manager and I think everybody remembers how successful we were with him as the manager.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech

25th May 2013

By Steve Brenner

PETR CECH is backing Jose Mourinho to recreate some more Stamford Bridge magic.

The Czech stopper was at the heart of the Special One’s first three-year spell at Chelsea which saw the Blues dominate domestically.

Cech knows plenty of water has flowed under the Bridge since Mourinho quit the Premier League for spells at Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

But with the Portuguese closing in on a sensational return to west London, hopes are high of another high octane glory charge.

Rafa Benitez will take charge of his final game in the Chelsea hot seat tonight when the Europa League champions clash with Manchester City in a second friendly in New York, after yesterday morning’s 4-3 defeat in St Louis.

Cech said: “In football, you never say never and anything can happen. Jose is a great manager and I think everybody remembers how successful we were with him as the manager.

“If he can reproduce that again, I think everything will be fantastic.

“Rafa has done a very good job having won the Europa League. We have also qualified for the Champions League in third spot and this was the aim when we changed the manager.

“He has worked hard from day one and tried to do his best for us and the club and he is now leaving with a European trophy, which is great for him. But the footprint Jose made in the whole of English football, that is what he’s about.

“Also the success he brought to our club. He was the manager who won the first title for the club in years and I would say that a new era began during his time.

“So this is why I think it is important.”

Mourinho famously helped Chelsea end a 50-year wait for a top flight title by bagging the Premier League title in 2005 before retaining it the following season.

And Cech, 31, reckons the Special One will be inheriting a special squad.

He added: “We have many talented players, having won two European trophies, some FA Cups and the Double.

“I think that he gave us a lot of experience, so in a way he will find an interesting team to come back to.

“In a big club, you always have the same expectation, no matter who the manager is. The players always want to win everything, so the pressure won’t be any different.

“He might come with a slightly different way than last time, let’s see. But it will be great to see him back and hopefully he can reproduce the success we had last time.”

Mourinho will already be licking his lips at trying to get right under new Manchester United manager David Moyes’ skin while knowing there has been huge upheaval at Manchester City too.

Cech said: “I think the top clubs will always be the top clubs, no matter who the managers are. They will still attract the top players and be the top clubs.

“It will be interesting to see how United cope with a new manager and Man City also.

“We are in the same position too. We have ended up having a very good season, even though it was a transitional year with a lot of new, young players coming in and getting experience.

“So we have a good