Chelsea Goalkeeper Petr Cech has admitted surprise that West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke did not continue on at Anfield in the manager’s role.

Clarke was assistant manager to Kenny Dalglish when the club decided to depart with the Scot’s services, alongside their club legend at the end of last season.

The Blues keeper believes that this was a mistake, and that Clarke, who also had a spell of over 10 years as a coach at Stamford Bridge, would have done a superb job.

The Anfield hierarchy eventually decided to go for Brendan Rodgers but Cech believes that Clarke deserved his opportunity to lead the Merseyside outfit.

“I was surprised that it took people so long before he actually got the job because I would have thought that he might have got his chance already when he was at Liverpool," the Chelsea stopper told the Fulham Chronicle.

It is believed that Liverpool also targeted Roberto Martinez of Wigan, while Steve Clarke managed to secure his first managerial role in the West Midlands with West Brom.

The 49-year-old did receive instant mitigation for his decision to take the role after securing a 3-0 victory over the Reds at The Hawthorns in his first game in charge.

Cech still holds the coach in high regard following their spell together at the Blues, but that will be put aside when his side visit the Hawthorns at the weekend.

Chelsea go into the 3pm kick off hoping to close the gap at the top of the Premier League.

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