Petr Cech - a belated tribute to a champion

[BlueLion. 21,491]

When people think about Chelsea Football Club and its illustrious list of stars both past and present, there is one man that - somehow - remains often over-looked. That man is Petr Cech.

This is a 30-year-old shot-stopper who has won everything there is to win at club level. Three Premier League titles, a brace of Carling Cups, four FA Cup triumphs in six years and now also the pinnacle of European football; the Champions League, have all been secured during an incredible eight-year period between the posts for the West London outfit. During that tenure he also won two Golden Glove awards, has thrice been named in the UEFA Team of the Year, became the first goalkeeper in the best part of a decade to be named the Barclays Premier League Player of the Month, and in five consecutive seasons won the Golden Ball in his native Czech Republic.

Fears over his future have risen from time to time - most notably after an horrific head injury in late 2006 threatened not only his career but also jeopardised his life. A custom-made headguard still serves as a reminder this man has quite literally fought tooth and nail for the five years since his incredible comeback. Doctors feared he may never walk again. Supporters questioned his abilities when the occasional dip in form came about. Even the club expressed their concerns when they handsomely invested in Thibaut Courtois; a young Belgian who will one day prove to be Cech's successor.

But those negative thoughts have well and truly been quashed by the Czech's form towards the end of the 2011-12 campaign. He starred for his country - as captain - in the European Championship finals, as his side were defeated at the quarter-final stage only by a brilliant header from Cristiano Ronaldo. Even before that, he had been showing the same sort of consistency that he had shown prior to his encounter with Stephen Hunt's knee at Reading in his performances at club level.

You only need to look at that ridiculously-brilliant save at Wembley as evidence of that. Andy Carroll strained every sinew in his neck to power Luis Suarez's intelligent chip goalwards, but there was no way beyond the sprawling Chelsea goalkeeper. Cech had no right whatsoever to even get fingers to the ball; let alone palm it on to the bar with only millimetres to spare. In a catalogue of stunning saves that have won countless games for this football club, this was one that ranks higher than the vast majority. A case study in athleticism and reaction times, Cech's last-gap save was as vital to the Chelsea cause that day as the goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba. It was a save that won Chelsea the FA Cup.

Fast forward a couple of weeks to the UEFA Champions League final. His exploits have become the stuff of legend. There is a quite remarkable story about Cech's three penalty saves that evening. For weeks, he and goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon had compiled comprehensive footage of every Bayern Munich penalty taken since 2009. Cech spent days watching each penalty - the the way the player places the ball, his posture. He even considered what time each penalty was taken, noting that when players get tired "they tend to opt for power and go across goal" - exactly what happened with Arjen Robben's effort.

He analysed every spot-kick, looking for patterns and regularities. When he discovered them, it was a case of remembering them.

Cech spent two hours on the flight from Gatwick to Munich watching the specially-prepared montage of Bayern's regular penalty takers for one final time. It even included footage from their pre-season clashes over the last half-dozen seasons - with a special mention going to a shoot-out against Manchester United in the Audi Cup during the summer of 2009. When, in the heat of the moment, the ice-cool Czech began to express concerns over his retention of the information, he was calmly told by fellow stopper Hilario not to panic - "You'll save everything".

He came as close as you possibly could to doing so. He got finger tips on the first penalty - Philipp Lahm's - but he was beaten for pace. He guessed the right way for Mario Gomez, but the German hit-man rarely fails from the spot. His opposite number, Manuel Neuer, stepped up and Cech almost palmed that one away too. But after three nearly moments, he did the business. He was showing off with Ivica Olic's penalty - diving across, he opted for what non-goalkeepers call the "wrong hand" to push the ball away. It was a better save than it looked. It was not quite in the corner, but Olic often goes high into the goal. Cech had to readjust; hence why he went with the "wrong hand"; the one that gives extended reach.

Then he again got fingers on another German spot-kick. This time it got the desired effect as Schweinsteiger's effort rebounded back off the post, courtesy of the Czech's left mitt. It was up to Drogba to do the rest and he - like Cech - delivered with aplomb. In a game billed up as Beauty against the Beast; Bayern's all-out attack versus the stubborn rearguard of Chelsea, it was sheer courage and brilliant intellect that won Chelsea the old big-eared trophy.

Such was the confidence that Cech had in his own ability, it rubbed off on those watching, too. Manuel Neuer is supposedly a big presence on the goal-line during shoot-outs. The tall German with his piercing gaze twice jumps and pats the bar, giving it the verbals, also. Yet etched on Cech's face was a look of incredible determination. It was a look that said - "I've been here before. This time I am not fucking losing -not again". The focus in his eyes gave nothing away; instead it only showed the fire that was fuelling his resistance. Whilst Neuer obnoxiously pranced about, Cech said nothing and did nothing but hold his considerable arms out wide and keep his eyes fixed on the ball.

Gary Cahill said he knew Cech would do it. John Terry echoed those sentiments. Even in the moment itself where Robben stepped up for that extra-time penalty, John Mikel Obi kindly whispered "Big Pete knows where you're going". Cech believed in himself, but perhaps more importantly, his team-mates did. It took immense pressure off the shoulders of Juan Mata, Frank Lampard, David Luiz, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba. They knew Cech would eventually guess right and go right. Even when Mata missed his first kick, you had the feeling Cech could claw it back for his team.

And boy, didn't he just do that.

Bayern lost the initiative three times that night. First when Drogba equalised with the bullet-header. Then when Robben spurned his chance from 12 yards. By the time Cech patted away Olic's effort to restore parity in the shoot-out, Bayern had blown their big opportunity for the third time. That was the killer moment. Cech's mind-games had gotten under Neuer's skin. It put off Schweinsteiger; a man usually so cool in situations like this. Germans don't miss penalties, do they? This one did.

Cech the psychology student had done the mental damage; Cech the goalkeeper brought the world crumbling down for Bayern supporters.

This was supposed to be their year. 'Unsere Stadt. Unser Stadion. Unser Pokal.'

No.

Ihrer Stadt, Ihr Stadion, Unser Pokal.

In the aftermath of Munich and everything that has come with it - the eulogies to Didier Drogba, cries of 'Di Matteo for manager!', praise for the half-fit defensive duo of Cahill and Luiz, Ashley Cole's world-class display...

...remember that the real reason Chelsea are Champions of Europe, is because of their number one.

Thank-you, Petr.

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[Billy. 2,742]

Epic read mate

[Strike 7,271]

i see you haven't lost your touch. really good read

[Amblève. 4,995]

It's "Ihre Stadt". Sry for nitpicking.

Anyway, brilliant read again Alex!

[SeB 1,281]

Is the Mikel quote accurate or it's a supposition from you ?

I would like to know what Terry said to Boateng in the 2010 Cup final as well, it didn't seem kind

Otherwise it's a very good read, you manage to keep the reader focused as it's a minute after minute report ! It's catchy !

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Its a supposition. Thanks for reading. Its hard to pace articles in a way that keeps people wanting to read. They're a lot different to reports on games, but I kind of incorporated a bit of my usual style in this one.

[OneMoSalah 8,803]

Great read.

@SeB the Mikel thing is actually what he said, he said in an interview he said something to Robben before he took the penalty. Still can't take credit away from Cech, was some stop!!

[Jype 6,398]

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

[CHOULO19 24,332]

That was excellent Alex. I couldn't stop reading once I started.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

It's "Ihre Stadt". Sry for nitpicking.

Anyway, brilliant read again Alex!

No I appreciate that, I want it to be accurate haha. My German is really bad though, sorry

[westcountryblue 25]

Great post - a really enjoyable read,

And for Cech - one word: Legend.

[Amblève. 4,995]

No I appreciate that, I want it to be accurate haha. My German is really bad though, sorry

Haha okay. So here we go again

"Ihr Stadion" because the gender of the word "Stadion" is a neuter. Feel free to ask me if you need help with German

[BlueDay 1]

I almost freakin cried.

An excellent read.

[Blue Armour 4,323]

Drogba did say Cech was "Man of the Match" for him. Great read.

[mtowle182 79]

i just joined here and this is the first thing i read, looks like i'm going to be on here a lot haha great work man

[Spike 12,049]

i just joined here and this is the first thing i read, looks like i'm going to be on here a lot haha great work man

There are a few terrific writers on this site and BlueLion is only one of them. Strike and SeB are two others that come to mind when I think about articles.

[mtowle182 79]

There are a few terrific writers on this site and BlueLion is only one of them. Strike and SeB are two others that come to mind when I think about articles.

cant wait to find all there work and read it haha