Cech changes focus

Blues keeper keen to avenge title heartache

By Vasek Kadlec   Last updated: 12th May 2008

Cech

Cech: Euro aim

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Petr Cech has set his sights on European glory after Chelsea missed out on the Premier League title.

The Blues were unable to snatch the crown from Manchester United and were ultimately forced to settle for runners-up spot.

They could only muster a 1-1 draw at home to Bolton on the final day of the season, while the Red Devils maintained their grip on the trophy with a 2-0 win at Wigan.

Cech admits that United were worthy champions, and revealed that Chelsea were aware of proceedings at the JJB Stadium throughout their clash with the Trotters.

Deserved

"Manchester United won their game, so they deserved to win the title," the keeper said on his official website.

"At half-time we knew that United were 1-0 up but we remained concentrated on our performance, on beating Bolton to keep alive our hope that something could happen at Wigan."

Chelsea now head to Moscow for the UEFA Champions League final with United on 21st May, and Cech believes that the Blues will be desperate to avoid ending the season empty-handed.

"By this (not winning the league), the season's focus has moved on," he said.

"We want to prepare for it in the best way possible. We have two free days, but after that we will be training as usual. We should move to Moscow next Monday."

Terry doubts

Czech Republic international Cech is also convinced that inspirational club captain John Terry will be fit for the European showdown, despite inflicting an elbow injury on the defender during a first-half clash between the pair at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

"John will be fit in a few days," he insisted.

"After our collision it was not visible that something had happened to him.

"I thought that he had picked up the injury as he fell."