CECH: CLEAN SHEETS ARE US
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is confident that he and his stingy defence can, once again, get the better of Serie A giants Juventus in Turin on April 10 and cruise through to the last eight of the Champions League.
The Czech international has conceded only one goal in the five games that new manager Guus Hiddink has taken charge of. He believes that clean sheets will be the key to winning the trophy that eluded Chelsea so cruelly last May.
“We were all delighted with result in the first leg,” said the 26-year-old of the 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago. “Although we could have scored a second goal, it was important to keep a clean sheet at home. Overall it was a good result for the second leg.
“Both teams are organised so maybe the one goal is enough. It is always better if you score more and kill the game early – then you can play with more confidence.
“We are expecting a very tough game because Juventus played some good football at Stamford Bridge and will have the home advantage this time. But we’ve been working hard as a defensive unit and I think that could see us through.”
Cech credits Dutchman Hiddink, who lifted the European Cup with PSV in 1988, as the man who has re-focused the team – and, in particular, striker Didier Drogba. “It is always important when you have a new manager to start well and there are a lot of things which have changed since he took over,” he continued. “At the moment it is working well for use but it is still early days.
“Didier’s been great recently. He’s such a strong guy and we can rely on him, put the long ball and he’ll hold it. It is a big boost for the team to have someone who can do that.”
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is confident that he and his stingy defence can, once again, get the better of Serie A giants Juventus in Turin on April 10 and cruise through to the last eight of the Champions League.
The Czech international has conceded only one goal in the five games that new manager Guus Hiddink has taken charge of. He believes that clean sheets will be the key to winning the trophy that eluded Chelsea so cruelly last May.
“We were all delighted with result in the first leg,” said the 26-year-old of the 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago. “Although we could have scored a second goal, it was important to keep a clean sheet at home. Overall it was a good result for the second leg.
“Both teams are organised so maybe the one goal is enough. It is always better if you score more and kill the game early – then you can play with more confidence.
“We are expecting a very tough game because Juventus played some good football at Stamford Bridge and will have the home advantage this time. But we’ve been working hard as a defensive unit and I think that could see us through.”
Cech credits Dutchman Hiddink, who lifted the European Cup with PSV in 1988, as the man who has re-focused the team – and, in particular, striker Didier Drogba. “It is always important when you have a new manager to start well and there are a lot of things which have changed since he took over,” he continued. “At the moment it is working well for use but it is still early days.
“Didier’s been great recently. He’s such a strong guy and we can rely on him, put the long ball and he’ll hold it. It is a big boost for the team to have someone who can do that.”
Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Didier Drogba, Guus Hiddink, Juventus, Petr Cech
