Petr Cech: 'Jose Mourinho gave me a chance to be the best'

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has said that Jose Mourinho gave him the chance to become a top goalkeeper in the Premier League.

Mourinho bought Cech from Rennes in 2004 during the Portuguese's first stint in charge at Stamford Bridge and the keeper has said that being a part of Mourinho's team has had a huge impact on his career.

"With Jose I only have great memories. He gave me the chance to be the number one at Chelsea," Cech told The Guardian. "I was 22 joining a big club [from Rennes] where Carlo Cudicini was first-choice, a player who had the most clean sheets the previous season.

"You think, 'Well, if the new manager comes in and just picks him then I'm dead.' That was the challenge. But he gave me the opportunity to start and show what I could do, and that is when my career kicked on.

"Secondly, obviously, we had such a successful time. I hope that we can reproduce that now and even push it forward."

Mourinho took over as the Blues' boss for the second time last month.