Having already beaten a Singapore Select XI 4-0 thanks chiefly to a Chuba Akpom hat-trick, Arsenal then defeated Everton 3-1 in the final of the Premier League Asia Trophy in mid-July.
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Jose Mourinho was not giving much away as Chelsea prepared to take on Arsenal in the Community Shield.
“We know that many teams will be in that position”.
Mourinho says he has never been on the wrong end of such a run, referencing only successive defeats against the same boss but different teams and in different seasons.
Cech felt he had no option but to leave the reigning Premier League champions, after losing his place in Jose Mourinho’s side to Belgium stopper Thibaut Courtois last season.
While Cech will go from Chelsea friend to foe in the traditional season-opening match between the Premier League champions and FA Cup winners, the loveless relationship between the two managers gives the fixture added spice. In a few ways, it is just another 90 minutes towards the all-important goal of being in top condition for the first league game, but because it’s an occasion teams do want to win.
Nacho Monreal ended the last campaign as first choice left-back but I think we might see Kieran Gibbs start this season as No.1.
“We are ready”, he was quoted as saying by his club’s site. But two of the Blues star men have won the race to be fit.
The 33-year-old goalkeeper ended a long association with Chelsea to move across London to the Emirates Stadium earlier in the summer.
Many are suggesting that Cech’s transfer to Arsenal have made them genuine title contenders.
But Mourinho revealed both would be fine to feature against Arsene Wenger’s side. Chelsea skipper believes that his former teammate can even save upto 12 or 15 points for his new team. He’s alongside Messi and Ronaldo, depending on the season they have. In the cup, you can win it with six straight victories, which we managed to do twice.
“He deserves a lot of credit for that”.
The Frenchman also shared his thoughts on Mourinho’s comments about Eden Hazard being better than Cristiano Ronaldo. His presence in between the sticks and in the dressing room will certainly boost the whole squad and the manager. “You will never hear anything bad from me about them”.
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“We lost against Red Bull and we were not happy”.
