The keeper is the last line of the defense and is often seen as the most important player on the pitch. Although offensive players usually win all the awards and receive all of the spotlight; it is the goalie that has the final chance to stop this success from happening. It is the play in the net by the keeper that can change a game and make the defense look that much better in the box score.
And Chelsea is fully aware of this.
That is why they have relied on Petr Cech for so many consecutive years. And for season after season this formula has worked pretty well for the Blues. But this fall many fans of the game were critical of some of Cech’s performances and many think that the Czech Republic star is beginning to dip in the worldwide rankings of keepers. Some even think that he is no longer one of the best in his position.
Well he might not be as good as Casillas is with Real Madrid or a few other guys out there, but make no mistake. Petr Cech is still really, really good and I think the Chelsea Blues are fully aware of this fact especially now that he is out of action.
The biggest loss of that Inter match a week back was not the 3-2 score, but the loss of their keeper and a guy that is looked at with a great deal of respect in the Blue’s locker room. Cech pulled his calf muscle in the second half of the Champions League match during a non-contact play and the keeper will miss over a month of action. And you know what that means. No Cech for the Champions League second match against Inter.
Just ask Manchester City what they thought of Cech’s absence. It’s injuries and recent poor form on defense that has put this club’s title hopes in serious jeopardy the past week. But their still is a lot of football left to be played…
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