Cech soldiers on for Blues

Keeper could have spent longer on sidelines after facial injury

Last updated: 21st May 2008

Petr Cech Chelsea

Cech: Committed

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Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has explained that there was 'no chance' of him missing Wednesday's UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United.

In April, Cech sustained a facial injury in training following a collision with team-mate Tal Ben Haim.

The injury threatened to sideline Cech for a lengthy period of time, but he made a swift recovery to play wearing a protective chin strap.

But the Czech international has revealed that he might have taken a longer period of time to recover had it not been for Chelsea's critical season climax.

Nasty one

"I knew I had my mouth closed but for some reason it felt like it was wide open," he told the Daily Star.

"It was then that I realised it might be worse than I thought. It was a nasty one.

"I was back pretty quickly because we found a solution which was this protection I wore.

"It was basically my decision. I could have stayed out longer and, had it been in a different season and my first injury, then maybe I would have.

"But at this stage there was no chance I was going to be sidelined if I didn't have to be."