Cech has role to play at Chelsea, says Mourinho

The 32-year-old has been at the club since 2004 but is now second choice behind Thibaut Courtois

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech still has a role to play at the club despite losing his place to Thibaut Courtois, insists manager Jose Mourinho.

The Czech Republic international had been a regular starter prior to this season, which has seen Courtois play all but 66 minutes of his maiden Premier League campaign.

Cech has been linked with a move away, but Mourinho underlined the 32-year-old's importance to the squad.

"The most important thing is what he brings to the team on the pitch, which is top quality," he told Yahoo-Eurosport.

"When Courtois was injured against Arsenal and Petr Cech comes to play on minute 20, I was so calm. I wasn't worried about a change of goalkeeper.

"So when you have on the bench a super goalkeeper like Petr Cech this is the most important thing.

"Obviously he wants to play, which is why sometimes I make him play. I have to feed the natural ambition of somebody who feels he is a top goalkeeper.

"I have to feed that ambition to keep him. I'm not saying [to keep him] happy, because to be happy a player must play every game, but at least to make him feel that we like him, we respect him and we need him."