Petr Cech Must Make Good on Chelsea Quit Threat for His Own Benefit
Petr Cech's return to Premier League action on Sunday came tinged with an air of irony.
Given he still suffers from the after effects of a head injury of his own, it was a less severe blow to the cranium that saw Thibaut Courtois forced off against Arsenal, leaving Cech to replace him midway through the first half.
The Czech stopper was given a rousing ovation from Chelsea fans, reaffirming the status he still carries in west London.
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Arsenal's limp attack gave Cech an easy afternoon, though. Indeed, with the Gunners failing to register a shot on goal, there's a case to argue Jose Mourinho made the wrong substitute.
Did he really need to replace a goalkeeper with a goalkeeper?
OK, we're getting carried away with ourselves, but the facts don't lie. Cech was marginally busier than he would have been had he not replaced Courtois and remained on the bench.
Had he been forced into a few good saves and been made to feel like he played a crucial role in Chelsea's 2-0 win, it may well have improved his mood somewhat.
Instead, Cech remains frustrated at a lack of first-team football.
"I have not spoken to anyone, but I think they know me well enough at the club to know that the situation is definitely not the way I would imagine,” Cech told a Czech radio station this week (per The Guardian).
"With the Euros [in 2016] and the national team in mind, there is no time for me to sit on the bench and not to play. If the situation will not start to improve for me, then I will want to solve it."
Until now, Cech has kept his counsel after being dropped in favour of Courtois at the start of the season.
The young Belgian is the future of Chelsea, and Mourinho has wasted little time in integrating him into his first-team plans.
Meanwhile, Cech had seen a solitary start in the Capital One Cup before his substitute appearance against Arsenal.
Now the frustration is showing, the cracks have appeared.
For Cech's own sake, the best course of action from here will be to make good on that promise to solve his predicament, rather than waiting for Chelsea to make a move.
Mourinho has what he needs.
When Courtois exited play on Sunday, there was little need for panic inside Stamford Bridge.
The score was level, but Chelsea were still confident. They weren't weakened by injury. Instead, they were strengthened.
Consider how daunting it must have been for Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez—one world-class goalkeeper goes off injured only to be replaced by another.
Arsenal haven't scored a goal past Chelsea since January 2013, and with the considerable frame of Cech greeting them—let alone a ruthless back four—Arsenal's front men didn't look confident they could end that run.
Had it been Mark Schwarzer instead of Cech, it would have been different. Very different.
What of Cech the player? Where does it all leave him?
In limbo, with few options to make a difference and change his manager's opinion, to show him he has made a mistake.
Coming on against Arsenal was a killer blow for Cech. It was the reality check he has maybe needed, making him all too aware that when he does eventually play this season, it will be because Courtois has dictated it.
Chelsea are doing the right thing. Why should Mourinho weaken his squad by selling Cech? His concern is to have the strongest team possible. Right now, he has that with Cech as back-up to Courtois.
It's down to the goalkeeper to choose his own path. Does he run down his contract and settle for cup games and injuries to give him a chance of first-team action?
Or does he take the tougher approach, force through a move and prove himself all over again at another club?
Given his quality, Cech shouldn't be in this position. He's too good and after all he has achieved in a decade in west London, it's regrettable his Chelsea career has come to this.
"That's football," we so often hear said.
Indeed it is.
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Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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