José Mourinho is resigned to losing Petr Cech at the end of the season, even though the Chelsea manager is desperate to retain the services of the man he relegated to the status of back-up goalkeeper.

Cech will be back on the substitutes’ bench for the Barclays Premier League match against West Ham United tonight after winning the 12th significant trophy of his Chelsea career in Sunday’s Capital One Cup final victory over Tottenham Hotspur, and is likely to seek more regular first-team football next season after losing his position to Thibaut Courtois.

The Czech Republic No 1 will have one year left on his contract in the summer, but Mourinho will not hold him to it against his will if Chelsea receive what he