The Italian boss was replaced with Rafael Benitez by owner Roman Abramovich after the side's league form slipped and a 3-0 defeat to Juventus left them unlikely to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.

But despite the protestations over the dismissal of a man who won a European and FA Cup double just months before, the keeper says the club must move on - and even gave the players a speech on pulling together.

"It was sad to see (Di Matteo) go early like that, but that's football life, unfortunately," Cech told the Daily Mail.

"He will always be a huge part of the history of this club with all he has achieved as a player and manager."

After his side's surprise defeat to West Brom last weekend, Cech said he made a dressing-room speech on the importance of the task ahead of them.

"It was a speech I had to make to the team about what we are and what we want to be and that we have to improve if we are to fulfil our expectations," he said.

"We were all in the same boat - manager, coaching staff and all players.

"We've ended up in this situation and we are all responsible for that, so we need to put it right now. Unfortunately, the manager is always the one who gets under pressure the most."