Petr Cech

[Blue Armour 4,164]

He had no right in being able to have the reaction time to even instinctively stick a foot out for Lukaku's second shot. Pure brilliance. Give credit where it is due.

There would have been 10 pages of discussion and endless vines had Courtois done the same! But I think that's because we take Cech for granted.

He's also gone nearly 1000 minutes without conceding at home in the league.

[LAM09 6,547]

Showing his worth once again.

[iseah100 5,612]

Showing his worth once again.

Was there ever any doubt?

[LAM09 6,547]

Was there ever any doubt?

Nope.

[kellzfresh 7,226]

"If big Pete's happy, I'm happy"

[manpe 10,855]

Single-footedly saved us 2 points. Legend.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Thibaut has been magnificent for us this season virtually 98% of the time, but I think we could well be looking back on that save as potentially title-deciding. That reaction save is literally the difference between us having a seven point lead and a five point lead.

[Special Juan 27,101]

He's just gave Mourinho a problem for the next game for me. But we all know Tibo steps in, but after that last night how can he not start the next game?

[Azul 1,615]

The thing with Petr is that he makes better saves than Courtois but not only that. He knows how to organize the defense so thats why he always keeps a cleansheet and for that he's better than Courtois in my opinion.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

The thing with Petr is that he makes better saves than Courtois but not only that. He knows how to organize the defense so thats why he always keeps a cleansheet and for that he's better than Courtois in my opinion.

I don't think that's the case. I've said this before and I could write a doctoral thesis on the reasons why, but it is simply a psychological thing. Courtois is a newcomer at Chelsea. Yes, he has achieved incredible things at Atletico, but he hasn't yet at Chelsea. Conversely Cech has 491 appearances and 227 clean sheets having won countless major honours over a ten-year period. Familiarity breeds confidence - people know how good Thibaut is, but until he has a couple of years under his belt it is always going to seem like something of a risk when he plays. Cech on the other hand has a decade's experience at Chelsea and has had long-term partnerships with the likes of Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, etc. for years and years. So ultimately we're bound to feel "safer" when he plays. If people cast their minds back to 2004, many people were outraged that Carlo Cudicini was being usurped by this young pretender from France and for the first few months they couldn't deal with it. I couldn't. Back then Carlo was my favourite player.

But there is no doubt Courtois is the long-term option. I just think José is - rightly - taking advantage of the fact he has two of the world's very best goalkeepers at his disposal. I also think he's desperate for Cech to get the PL record number of clean sheets before he inevitably moves on in the summer. Courtois just has to deal with the fact he is competing with goalkeeping royalty. As of next season he'll be the absolutely undisputed number one, but for now he needs to work hard for his place because every time Cech has come in (even the Bradford game he made some unreal saves and was left criminally exposed by our worst defensive performance in years) he's done a sterling job.

Fair play to them both I say.

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

You can't throw him out of the team after those saves. You simply can't do it.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Ridiculous

[manpe 10,855]

Ridiculous

When I see saves like that, and they do happen once in a while, then I don't understand what's so special about the Gordon Banks save against Pele in a world cup. Are the only reasons of that save being so hyped because it was England and on the opposite side it was the great Pele? And even when people talk about that save, they speak like it was physically impossible to pull off... how come? Some of the saves Cech has made throughout his career have defied laws of universe, the one Banks made was good, but the more I watch replays of it, the less impressed I am considering the hype of it being "the greatest save of all time".

[Yeboii 1,844]

When I see saves like that, and they do happen once in a while, then I don't understand what's so special about the Gordon Banks save against Pele in a world cup. Are the only reasons of that save being so hyped because it was England and on the opposite side it was the great Pele? And even when people talk about that save, they speak like it was physically impossible to pull off... how come? Some of the saves Cech has made throughout his career have defied laws of universe, the one Banks made was good, but the more I watch replays of it, the less impressed I am considering the hype of it being "the greatest save of all time".

Probably cause he it was England. I mean look at all the Harry Kane wanking all over right now and some people haven't even heard of Alexandre Lacazette.

[Jase 43,479]

Ridiculous

From another perspective, that was a crap finish from Lukaku and rubbish defending from us.

[Henrique 9,133]

From another perspective, that was a crap finish from Lukaku and rubbish defending from us.

Affff.

[Reddish-Blue 2,220]

It would have been wonderful to see Cech retire at Chelsea, brilliant keeper, stepped up when we needed it the most and for me, he'll be one of the four* legends of the past decade.

*The other three legends: JT, Didier and Lampard

I wish Cech all the best if/when he moves on

[CFC888 219]

Ridiculous

I love the bit where JT realises that Lukaku has an open shot on goal and his shoulders slump in resignation, only to jump back into action in astonishment, clearly disbelieving of Petr's save.