PETR Cech believes Roberto Di Matteo and Jose Mourinho have earned the right to have their names heard at Stamford Bridge.
The weekend's visit of West Brom saw a changeable atmosphere at Chelsea, with fans at turns being critical of 'interim' boss Rafael Benitez, and at other times getting full-square behind the team.
Among the more popular displays of defiance was the singing of two former bosses' names - in stark contrast to the abuse aimed at the incumbent coach.
And Cech says that he is fine with that as both Di Matteo and Mourinho deserve the plaudits of fans.
“You still hear the 16th minute for Robbie Di Matteo,” said Cech. “If you win the Champions League you deserve that.
“Jose Mourinho did a fantastic job for the club and people loved him so he rightly deserved that.
“This is the way it should be, the fans should pay their respect for the players and the ex-players who come here to the Bridge.”
Di Matteo's name has been sung the second the clock has struck 16, in reference to the squad number of his playing days, at each of the 28 games since his sacking, from Griffin Park to Yokohama.
Mourinho's name has tended to be a more occasional subject of chants, typically when fans are unhappy with the man presently attempting to fill the one they still call The Special One's shoes.
Meanwhile, on the subject of Benitez' controversial broadside at the fans last week, Cech said the former Liverpool man had every right to express his opinion: but that fans could exercise that right too.
“We live in a democracy and he (Benitez) can do that,” said the Czech international.
“He has a right to express his opinion -as do the fans - they have the same right to express their opinion when they come to the game.
“The most important part is that the people are still coming to the stadium to support the team.”
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