Season Rewind : Petr Cech

CECH: One of Chelsea's Biggest Hero's last season...

The role Petr Cech played as the Blues secured both the Champions League and FA Cup cannot be understated, with outstanding performances in the finals of both competitions.

After playing in the opening day draw away at Stoke City, Cech missed the subsequent games against West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City, while his form was called into question upon his return, with the game at home to Arsenal, in which we conceded five times, raising more questions than answers.

However, as so often in the past, Cech bounced back and went on to perform with the levels of consistency and maturity which have proved his trademark since his arrival at Stamford Bridge in 2004.

He almost single-handedly kept us in the Champions League when Barcelona visited west London in the semi-final first leg back in April, denying both Andres Iniesta and Adriano, before making a stunning late save from Carles Puyol.He was equally impressive in the return leg, turning a Lionel Messi effort on to the post with the game on a knife edge as the Blues held on for a memorable victory.

That is world-class goalkeeping...

In the FA Cup Final against Liverpool, meanwhile, with the game delicately poised at 2-1, Cech made arguably the save of the season, clawing an Andy Carroll header on to the bar before Branislav Ivanovic was on hand to clear the danger, and there was more to come.

The Champions League Final in Munich will go down as one of the greatest nights in the club's history, and there is little doubt Cech was a major factor.

As the game moved into extra-time with the scores level at 1-1, Bayern Munich were awarded a penalty. Arjen Robben, the former Chelsea player, was the man entrusted with taking the kick, and as Blues fans feared the worst, Cech made a brilliant save low down to his left to keep us in the game.

Mr. Reliable

His finest moment in a Blue shirt, however, was still to come. With Juan Mata having missed our first kick in the deciding shoot-out, the game appeared to be slipping away.

Cech, though, made two successive saves, from both Olic and Schweinsteiger, providing Didier Drogba with the opportunity to win us the trophy, which he duly accepted.

Appearances: 55+1,

Clean sheets: 19

Penalties saved [not including shoot-outs]: 2

minutes on pitch: 5,334

KTBFFH fellow Blues till then.....


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