Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois insists there will still be pressure on his shoulders to perform next season despite Petr Cech‘s departure.
The Belgian stopper won the battle to become the Blues number one last year as he ended Cech 10-year dominance of being the club’s undisputed first-choice in between the sticks.
Cech, who completed his move to London rivals Arsenal earlier in the summer, has since been replaced at Stamford Bridge by Bosnia and Herzegovina international Asmir Begovic as manager Jose Mourinho wasted no time in bringing in adequate cover for Courtois.
Many expect Begovic to be limited to appearances in the cup competitions for the 2015-16 campaign, but Courtois says the situation from last season has not changed and welcomes the new challenge from the former Stoke City stopper:
“It is the same as last year for me,” the former Atletico Madrid loanee told Guardian Sport.
“I started the pre-season thinking as a No1 and trying to get myself ready for the first game. There is no difference in having Petr Cech behind me or Asmir. They’re both great keepers and I know I have to play well and that is what I’m trying to do.”
“We saw last season that having another good keeper is very good because Petr saved us a lot of points and helped us to secure the Premier League title.”
“My life is not any easier now. Last season was the same because I knew Petr wanted to play. I had the confidence of the manager and the team and I think I did well. You know when you have a good keeper behind you, you have to play well,” Courtois stressed.
The Blues kick off the defence of their Premier League trophy at home to Swansea City on August 8 before facing title rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium a week later.
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