FA Cup: Mourinho vows to keep Cech as Schwarzer departs for Leicester
CHELSEA 3 WATFORD 0
CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho ruled out letting Petr Cech leave in January following yesterday’s comfortable FA Cup win against Watford.
The Blues coasted into round four with second-half goals from midfielder Willian, forward Loic Remy and defender Kurt Zouma. Mourinho confirmed veteran stopper Mark Schwarzer is to join Leicester, adding there was “no chance” of Cech, who has lost his place to Thibaut Courtois this term, following him out of Stamford Bridge this month.
“I want to publicly thank Mark Schwarzer because he’s leaving us,” said Mourinho. “As a goalkeeper, when we needed him he was there for us, and as a person and a professional he was an amazing guy in our group. We’ll bring Jamal Blackman back from Middlesbrough. He was on loan there but he wasn’t playing so for them it’s not a problem. He can work with Courtois and Cech so for him it’s a good experience.”
Mourinho was sufficiently worried by a poor first 45 minutes that he threw on top scorer Diego Costa and Willian for Oscar and Andre Schurrle at half-time.
That gambit quickly paid off when Costa’s run helped tee up Willian to find the top corner from 20 yards, and the pair’s combination play also preceded Remy’s volleyed second.
Frenchman Zouma made the result safe with Chelsea’s third goal of a 15-minute spell, heading into the far corner from full-back Cesar Azpilicueta’s lofted cross.