New Chelsea goalkeeper coach Christophe Lollichon admits he's grateful to Petr Cech's influence in him landing the job.

Lollichon joined Chelsea earlier this season from Rennes, where he previously worked with Cech, and he told Chelsea's website: "It is a fantastic accolade and a great feeling when you pick up the phone one day and you have a message saying one of the two top goalkeepers in the world has recommended you to come and do a job at Chelsea.

"It is fantastic not only because Petr is a great goalkeeper on a sporting level but also because on a human level he is a great person. That makes it satisfying."

On his early months at Chelsea, the Frenchman added: "My first impressions are absolutely excellent.

"I've discovered a top notch club, playing at the highest level and what is great is that everything is in place so the performance can be at the top rate for every match.

"At the moment I've not had time at all to do anything except work and I have this groove I travel in between Cobham and Stamford Bridge. I have not seen much else. One thing I have managed to find out is the English people have been so welcoming.

"On the field, I am lucky in that not only have I got an excellent first choice keeper, the understudies are tremendous as well. In the space of just one month we have a really strong bond between the goalkeepers and their coach. It is a two-way dialogue, that is how I like to work."