PETR CECH insists Manchester City’s £100million summer spending spree will guarantee them absolutely nothing. City’s new boss Manuel Pellegrini has splashed the cash on Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Alvara Negredo and Stevan Jovetic. But Chelsea’s keeper is not intimidated, saying throwing the cheque book around is the easy part, winning trophies is difficult. Cech said: “Money has never won anything. You can spend as much as you want but you must build a team first. “Yes, City have huge competition for every place. “They have a new manager, new expectations and new motivations. “And if they build a team they will be a tough opponent and rival for us in the Champions League and for the Premier League title. But so will Manchester United. “So will Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool. “Arsenal’s spell without trophies is too long, they want to prove their critics wrong. “Tottenham were on the edge of going into the Champions League, they’ll want to keep their challenge up. Manchester United are the champions. “And Manchester City have spent money to challenge. That’s the reality of the situation. “So, at Chelsea, we know it’s going to be a tough season but we’re here as well and working hard to be ready for the challenge. “We’ll try our best to win the league. Our aim is to do the very best we can. “We know what our objectives and targets are and will go game by game and try to win everything we can and then see.” Cech is incredibly confident and clearly believes Chelsea’s new-look squad is fit for purpose. Training on this Far East tour has been tough and demanding with competition for a first-team place already fierce. And that is without the absent Confederation Cup stars like Juan Mata, David Luiz, Oscar, Fernando Torres and Cesar Azpilicueta, who will not join up with their team-mates until July 28. So no wonder Cech echoed boss Jose Mourinho’s warning that not even big names like skipper John Terry or £50m striker Fernando Torres will be guaranteed a starting place. Even he is taking nothing for granted despite 10 years as Chelsea’s No 1. He says the arrival of keeper Mark Schwarzer, 40, from Fulham will ensure he needs to stay at the top of his game. Cech, now 31, continued: “I’m not protected either, I’m the same as everybody else. “We all have to earn the manager’s choice and everyone is working hard to do so. “At the big clubs, it is always the same, there’s high competition for every place. “You must make sure you are ready if you want to make your manager pick you. “Mark has come in now and he is a fantastic goalkeeper. “He has played at various World Cups with Australia and many, many games in the Premier League — so he is a great choice by the manager. “And, for me, I know I have to keep my standards high if I want to play.”
Posted on: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 12:54:02 +0000
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