Chelsea Transfer News: Jose Mourinho Says Blues Don't Miss Petr Cech

As if Petr Cech's mood wasn't dampened enough by a 2-0 home defeat to West Ham United in Sunday's Premier League debut for Arsenal, Jose Mourinho has dealt his former goalkeeper another low blow.

The Chelsea manager endured some goalkeeping misery of his own on Saturday after seeing No. 1 Thibaut Courtois sent off against Swansea City, but insists the Blues "don't miss" Cech, per the Press Association (via ESPN FC):

"

We don't miss Petr. We've got a good keeper, the problem with Petr is not that we miss him because we have two excellent keepers. The problem with Petr is that an opponent is better than before.

Thibaut and Asmir [Begovic] are two fantastic keepers. My club did very well by getting a keeper on time and not on the August 31. If my club gives me a keeper on August 31, then we have a problem not just for today but also for the next match. Unless the people understand that it's not a red card and they clear the suspension.

"

Chelsea brought in former Stoke City stopper Asmir Begovic as a replacement for Cech and the 28-year-old came on to make his Premier League debut for the Blues during their 2-2 draw against Swansea on Saturday.

Life at the Emirates Stadium got off to a difficult start for Cech against the Hammers after committing errors to concede both goals. Ex-Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand agreed the stopper's stock was in free fall:

The veteran ran out to claim a free-kick that was never going to be his as Cheikhou Kouyate delivered the opener before Mauro Zarate caught Cech out at his near post with a long-range effort.

However, Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger refused to single out his summer recruit in his post-match comments, noting his side were also guilty of errors in attack, per the Mirror's John Cross:

"

Our performance was not convincing. On the two aspects of our game, going forward and defending, overall we were punished. On top of that, we gave two very cheap goals away. I haven’t spoken to Cech. But I can’t see many convincing individual performances today. It’s difficult to single one player out.

It’s not only him (Cech), we have enough experience at the back. If you look at our backline, the youngest one is 30. We are maybe guilty at 0-0 to give them a goal as soft as that. It was a defensive lapse. A collective lapse. There are many things to say about that. I knew that if the delivery was good, we would be in trouble, even before the free-kick was taken.

"

With Courtois now suspended for Sunday's trip to the Etihad Stadium, it will be Begovic who starts in goal for the Blues, facing a sooner-than-expected test of his Chelsea credentials.

Courtois was shown a straight red after kicking out at Swans striker Bafetimbi Gomis in an attempt to stop his attack, apologising to his team-mates after the 2-2 draw via his official Twitter account:

Cech's arrival in north London made a lot of sense on paper, providing a more experienced presence than alternatives Wojciech Szczesny or David Ospina after spending a decade as No. 1 at Stamford Bridge.

Sunday's defeat hasn't left the 33-year-old short on hope, however, as Cech took to his official Twitter account following the West Ham result to insist things will improve:

It would of course be unfair to judge Cech on just one Premier League outing for his new club, but his effort to reinstate himself as one of the world's finest goalkeepers has gotten off to a rotten start.

Bleacher Report's Garry Hayes raised the point that getting used to a new defence, one that's decidedly not as accomplished as Chelsea's, will also have its impact on Cech as he settles in at the Emirates:

Mourinho has confidence in Begovic to be a sturdy force for the west Londoners in Courtois' stead, but an away fixture against Manchester City will be a demanding test for his first start in Chelsea blue.

Meanwhile, Cech is also on the warpath to prove himself in a new setting as he hopes to prove Mourinho should show more regret over his Stamford Bridge exit.