Cech reveals form delight

Cech: Fine form

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Petr Cech is delighted Chelsea are now winning games without conceding goals.

The Blues have kept seven clean sheets out of their last eight games, with their goalkeeper in fine form behind his defence.

Carlo Ancelotti's side secured their status as UEFA Champions League Group D winners on Wednesday night with a 1-0 win over Porto.

The win added another clean sheet to Cech's tally for the season, and he admits the recent run of results has left him delighted after a shaky defensive start to the season.

"We travelled to Porto with the aim of winning the group and that happened, so we can be satisfied," Cech said on his official website.

"Naturally, I am pleased with the series (of clean sheets). At the start of the season we were also winning matches but always conceded some goals.

"Since the defeat to Aston Villa we have been playing well, on a winning run and have not been conceding goals.

"Thanks to that a great spirit can be sensed within the team.

"We don't manage to score three or four goals in one game every time, but as long as we know that it is enough to keep a clean sheet and score one to win, then it is a very pleasant revelation."

Fixture congestion

Chelsea have embarked on a congested spell of fixtures which sees them play 11 games in six weeks as the busy end of year period begins to take toll.

The run includes their final Champions League group game and a Carling Cup clash at Blackburn next week, and Cech insists they could not have entered the pile-up in better circumstances.

"It is very good that we have started the spell with two victories," said the Czech Republic international.

"Saturday's win over Wolves was very valuable because it is always difficult to switch back from the international break.

"Especially if 23 of our 25-man squad travel out on international duty, some all the way to Africa or South America.

"It is never easy for the team to switch back to the domestic league, especially if only one training session took place before the game."

Chelsea face a tough test this weekend as they travel to the Emirates on Sunday to take on Arsenal, who have been in rampant form at home this season.

Cech said: "We are at the beginning of a series, which is not the most decisive one in the Premier League but, anyway, it will reveal a lot about how the league will develop further.

"It would be ideal for us to stay in the winning ways, knowing that a win over Arsenal would move them eight points behind us."