Chelsea goalkeeper battle heats up

Posted Saturday, September 06, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

COURT NO.1: Belgian Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is determined to become the main man at Stamford Bridge

Thibaut Courtois wants to kill off Petr Cech's hopes of ever playing for Chelsea again.

Courtois fired an ominous warning to his rival Cech by insisting he has no plans to give up the gloves in any competition after being named Chelsea's new number one.

And Courtois is so confident he has won the battle for good he is now ready to sign a new five-year deal.

Courtois has started all three Chelsea games so far this season with boss Jose Mourinho dumping legend Cech, 32, on the bench.

Goalkeeper Courtois, 22, said: "As a professional and a winner you always want to play every game."

"So we will see what is the decision of the coach but I am a professional player and want to play every game possible."

"The Champions League is something great that you don't want to miss and last year with Atletico I played the final and I played the final of the cup with Atletico two years ago and we won it."

After losing out to Courtois Cech was willing to wait until January before making a decision on his future.

Real Madrid, Paris St-Germain and Monaco are all keeping tabs on Cech's situation.

Meanwhile, Courtois has been in talks with Chelsea over a contract extension that would see him more than double his £30,000-a-week wages.

He was reluctant to commit his future until he was convinced he would be first-choice keeper.

But he is now and said: "It is not yet signed but I think when I am back at Chelsea normally I will sign a new contract."

Courtois insisted he and Cech still get on despite the intense fight for one position.

He said: "At the moment I am playing and for him [Petr] maybe it is not the nicest situation but it is the decision of the board and the trainer."

"I am always working hard in training to be ready when I can't play or when I am not playing well but we work very well together."

Chelsea striker Diego Costa is out of Spain's Euro 2016 qualifier against Macedonia on Monday after picking up a hamstring strain in Thursday's 1-0 friendly defeat against France.