How in the world is Jose Mourinho keeping Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois happy?

When discussing the world's best goalkeepers, the conversation must start with Manuel Neuer, the 2014 World Cup-winning keeper of Germany. The Bayern Munich man, who grew up a Shalke 04 kid, is widely considered the best all-around goalkeeper on the planet. The sometimes sweeper keeper is that special kind of athlete that would excel at any position on the pitch.

From there, a top five of the best goalkeepers must include Thibaut Courtois, who led Atletico Madrid to a 2013-14 Spanish league title and the 2014 Champions League final and helped Belgium to the World Cup quarterfinals. At only 22 years old, Courtois rose to the elite keepers of the sport and experienced highly privileged success at a young age. While most of his success came in Spain on loan, Chelsea’s stopper for the future forced his way into being the first-choice Chelsea keeper of the present.

Courtois had developed to such an extent that leaving him out on loan became a liability for the Blues. In the 2013-14 Champions League semifinals, Atletico Madrid earned special permission to bypass the Belgian’s contract and used Courtois against his parent club. Ultimately, Courtois’ loan in Europe hurt Chelsea more than any domestic loan in England ever could.

Petr Cech is worthy of making his own argument as the best shot stopper in Europe. He won the Premier League Golden Gloves award for the 2013-14 season, keeping the most clean sheets in England with 16, and helped Chelsea reach the semifinals of the Champions League. An elite Premier League keeper for a decade, Cech continues to be one of the most intimidating figures in between the posts.

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Beyond Neuer, Courtois and Cech, most top five lists include some combination of Gianluigi Buffon, David De Gea, Hugo Lloris, Iker Casillas, Salvatore Sirigu, Samir Handanovic and maybe Joe Hart and Wojciech Szczesny. Given the possibilities, Neuer, Cech and Courtois should finish in the top five of any list involving these quality keepers.

So how exactly is Chelsea managing to keep two of the top keepers in the world?

The Mourinho Magic

Manager Jose Mourinho is as well known for his man-managing skills as he is famous for his tactics. Mourinho has cracked some of the most mentally and physically developed athletes – Didier Drogba and Marco Materazzi are two names that immediately come to mind.

With Courtois and Cech, the 52-year-old Chelsea boss succeeded in keeping Cech engaged while he prepared his young keeper for a life in the Premier League. When provided the opportunity, though, the Czech international stepped in and performed with class and ability fitting the Premier League’s top keeper from a season ago.

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In the high pressure atmosphere of an Arsenal vs. Chelsea London derby, Cech came on after Courtois suffered a head injury in early October. Under Cech’s watch, Chelsea recorded a 2-0 victory in what amounted to the 32-year-old’s 2014-15 Premier League season debut.

Cech’s league encore would not arrive until two months later when he started against Hull City in another 2-0 Chelsea win. Cech put out two more clean sheets in the Premier League, as Chelsea demolished Premiership opponents 12-0 in his four appearances. Cech’s position in goal during Chelsea’s shocking 4-2 loss to lower league Bradford City in the FA Cup last Saturday served as a reminder that every keeper has a day where every ball seems just out of reach.

In the Champions League group stages, Mourinho strategically split matches between Cech and Courtois. In Cech’s three European appearances, Chelsea won two games and drew one with an aggregate score of 10-2. In Courtois’ three group stage starts, he also won twice and drew once with an aggregate tally of 7-1.

More than halfway through the season, either Cech or Courtois could conceivably end up as the No. 1 if Chelsea reaches the Champions League final. Mourinho’s ability to keep both stoppers believing this uncertainty explains how he has succeeded in holding onto two of the top keepers in the world. He uses one carrot to motivate two goalies.

With Courtois new to the Premier League, the Portuguese tactician started the future of the club for 19 of the first 20 Premier League matches to begin the campaign. Immediately, Mourinho satisfied his young keeper’s desire for playing time while helping him adjust to the pace of play in England.

With the business end of the season at hand, Mourinho suddenly has two top keepers residing on English soil. One is fresh and the other is young. Both understand the Premier League, and both are motivated by healthy competition within the squad.

As much as Courtois and Cech must equally believe they have a chance to potentially start in a Champions League final, both find themselves equally competing for starts against Liverpool in the League Cup semifinal and against title holder Manchester City in the Premier League.

After Cech’s FA Cup defeat, Courtois expects to return against Liverpool on Tuesday, but the Belgian is one mediocre outing away from Cech taking over duties against Frank Lampard and Manchester City on Saturday in a match that may decide the Premier League title come May.

Neither Courtois nor Cech is a backup. Chelsea has two starters, and keeping both world-class keepers in that starting mindset is the magic of Mourinho. If he can keep both stoppers past the summer, that would amount to a Mourinho miracle.

Shahan Ahmed is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. He has previously written about the 2014 World Cup and 2013 Confederations Cup and regularly provides opinions on the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A and Spanish La Liga. Follow Shahan on Twitter: @ShahanLA