Petr Cech has indicated that he is focused on winning the Europa League with Arsenal and would thereafter decide on his future. The 37-year-old has already confirmed that he would be retiring from the game at the end of the season and recent reports have linked him with the sporting director role at former club Chelsea.
Ahead of the Europa League final against the Blues, Cech has clarified that he is focused on securing European silverware with the Gunners and any speculation regarding his future would be sorted following his final game in professional football, he tweeted: “Despite the news today as I had already said to everybody before, I’ll make decision about my future after the last game. Now my sole focus is to win the EL with Arsenal.”
Cech has been with the Gunners for the past three-and-a-half seasons and during this period, he has come for criticism from a section of the supporters, considering the occasional yet costly mistakes between the sticks. Nonetheless, he has enjoyed a good relationship with most of the faithful and he will be hoping to go on a high by lifting the Europa League title.
Arsenal are scheduled to face Chelsea during next week’s Europa League final in Baku and Cech is bound to start the game, considering he has been the first-choice goalkeeper for most of the competition. Gunners boss Unai Emery has the temptation to go with Bernd Leno in goal ahead of the veteran but the Spaniard appears likely to stick with the 37-year-old, who should not lack the motivation for what would be his final professional game.
The north London club just missed out on Champions League football after falling one point short off the fourth league position but they can still secure a berth into the competition, should they beat the Blues to the Europa League crown.