Petr Cech: You can say this is a new Chelsea generation
Chelsea legend Petr Cech believes that this group of Chelsea players is the new generation and with a title win on Sunday, the team can continue to grow and hopefully dominate. Much has been made of Chelsea's season and of the steps the team has taken forward from last time around.
Jose Mourinho knew the gaps within his squad in those key areas and brought Thibaut Courtois, Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa in and just look at how impressive we have become. If anything, I would be betting now on Chelsea winning the Premier League next season.
So to Cech and his comments. As we all know Petr Cech has played a fundamental part of our success over the last decade having signed from Rennes in France in 2004. As those years have passed, Cech has seen just how Chelsea have grown as a club domestically and in Europe; now being established as one of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Speaking ahead of Crystal Palace on Sunday and the game that could see Chelsea land their fourth Premier League title in that period of time, Cech was asked of the new breed and another possible period of dominance and he responded by saying:
"The last title we won was back in 2010, so it has been a long time.
This one is hopefully the start of a new era, another generation of players, because there is only me, JT and Didier left from the team who have been here for the last decade.
You can say this is a new Chelsea generation. Hopefully we will win the title on Sunday and this team will continue to grow.
You can be a great player, but being a champion gives you another step, another dimension.
You learn to play difficult games under pressure and you can see that, in difficult moments, this team has the experience and quality to overcome them.
That is why we are in the position we are – new players who came in already had experience of winning titles elsewhere, which is quite important, and it's why everything clicked so quickly.
It's always nice to be there and make a contribution to the club's success. At certain stages of this season, we have all contributed with moments that help us to be where we are.
It's been 10 years and we are still here. It is a great feeling to have another chance to win another Premier League title.”
Gary Neville was quoted yesterday morning stating the "pathetic attempt" by our rivals to challenge Chelsea this season and encouraged them all to make a much better attempt at bridging the gap.
However, he also made the point that Chelsea under Jose Mourinho would continue to strengthen this summer and if anything would improve on what has been a fantastic season. By doing that I believe that Chelsea could extend their advantage over our rivals making it even harder for them to catch us leading to another period of dominance and a new Mourinho era.
After five years without winning the Premier League, Jose Mourinho has revitalised everything to do with the club. Roman Abramovich <brought him back here-- because he realised just how much our game has evolved into a results business and there was only one man that could more or less guarantee that (or a realistic challenge).
People have moaned and complained about us and our football of late, but the same people have to remember that we have lost our main striker in Diego Costa who has been a revelation this season. We have had to play at one stage without any fully fit strikers so we have made ourselves difficult to beat and have still ground out important results.
When everyone was fully fit, we were winning in style and in some cases, blowing teams away (cast your minds back to that <first half against Swansea-- away). Chelsea are deserved champions elect and I cannot wait for us to win it whenever that will be between now and the end of the season.
One thing is for sure. Chelsea are primed and ready to dominate English football under Jose Mourinho and his mission upon his return is exactly that. Throw in a couple of players coming through from our Academy to have the same impact at the club as John Terry then we would live in a perfect world.