Mark Schwarzer

[Milan 17,955]

Schwarzer - Jose's inspiring words turned me into a hero

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/375730/Chelsea-s-Mark-Schwarzer-Jose-s-inspiring-words-turned-me-into-a-hero

"He is pretty good at various moments - saying a couple of things to you every now and then," said the Aussie.

"Before I came on he said 'listen, believe in your own ability'.

"And that was it. It was a reassurance that he believes and I need to believe and make sure I go out there and play my game."

Cech injured himself after falling in a heap in a goalmouth scramble.

"At first, I was sitting there offering some of the guys some chewing gum, so I didn't think the injury was that serious," said Schwarzer.

"There was a couple of movements of players saying he is signalling to come off.

"Then the manager was saying 'settle down, settle down everyone' and I was just warming up.

"It was a little bit 'okay, this is going to be interesting'. Then the realisation that you are going to come on.

"I won't deny that there were nerves to begin with. But once you get on the pitch you settle pretty quickly and we dealt with the corner pretty easily in the end.

"From that point onwards I was able to settle into the game."

Defending Chelsea's conservative approach in Madrid, he said: "The purist wants to see attacking football, goals going in everywhere, of course. I understand that.

"There's nothing better than watching an exciting game on TV at home. I do it myself.

"When you watch a 0-0 it is quite boring. But it doesn't seem that way when you're in the group, in with the players.

"As a manager, you do what you can to get through to the next round and obviously the next round's the final."

Former Fulham and Middlesbrough keeper Schwarzer has played just eight times for Chelsea since arriving on a free transfer in the summer.

And he does not know yet whether he has done enough to get a new one-year contract.

"I am not going to deny it has been tough," he said. "It has been.

"Even at my tender age of 41 you can still experience something new, so to play a Champions League semi-final was fantastic."

As well as top flight goalkeeping, Schwarzer has also turned his hand to writing.

He has co-written five children's books - the last of which is called 'Megs and the Wonder Strike'.

Mourinho could do with one of those at Stamford Bridge next week.

"I suppose you could write a book about it one day and say this is how it unfolded," said Schwarzer. "You'd never believe it, but it just happens."

[Blue Armour 4,436]

Beautiful.

[Las7 951]

TWO MOTM PERFORMANCES IN A ROW

[The only place to be 11,313]

Would love to keep him around next season. It makes such a difference to have a truly competent, Premier League keeper on the bench. His experience showed both in terms of goalkeeping and expert timewasting. Loved it.

[Melanicus 5,208]

How fucking good is this guy? When Cech was injured against Atletico, I had a really bad feeling, but Schwarzer was fucking immense in that game. And now again. I'm not worried at all about our goalkeeper in CL.

Cech or Courtois or Schwarzer next season?!

[chelsea_4_eva 1,181]

To Mark:

Keep it up!

[Fulham Broadway 17,306]

Has to be given a lot of credit today-

was solid as he was in Madrid

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Damn, now we have to play Beeney for the rest of the season since e is surely banned after this. FA- you are a delightful bunch

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Didn't have a lot to deal with, but what a big save he came up with from that Allen Volley. But the bigger save for me was when he came out almost to the pen spot in the first half to collect Suarez's low cross right before it reached Sterling's feet.

[LAB 1,030]

Thank you Mr Schwarzer for everything you're doing for Chelsea this season. Great character, very professional. Basically as good as it gets for a replacement GK for Chelsea. Probably better than at least 1/3 of the first choise GK's in the league. Bravo

[Milan 17,955]

[Jase 43,479]

Has Schwarzer been jinxed or something? He has kept a clean sheet in all but 3 games he has played for us this season and in those 3 games, it came against sides in red/white kits - twice against Sunderland and now Atletico!

[NiclasCFC 2,582]

José wants him for another season, its on SSN.

[Special Juan 28,112]

Mmm well this is getting interesting.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Can't be asked to count all the homegrown implications for this but I love the guy as second-choice and with Hilario gone he's even a good shout for third-choice.

Of course it could also mean that one of Courtois or Cech isn't going to be around either going into the season, or perhaps just for some of the season (a January transfer for whichever one we're not using??).