Cech - First goal crucial

Cech: Seeking clean sheet

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Petr Cech believes forcing the breakthrough will be crucial to Chelsea in their UEFA Champions League clash with Barcelona on Wednesday.

The two European heavyweights enter the second leg of their semi-final contest all square after a goalless draw at Camp Nou last week.

That means it will be all to play for when attentions turn to Stamford Bridge in midweek.

Chelsea know they stand on the brink of a second consecutive final, but are also well aware that an away goal would see the eventual outcome heavily weighted in Barca's favour.

"There are five games to be played by Chelsea in the rest of the season, but I am hoping it will be six. That would mean we were in the Champions League final again," Cech said on his personal website.

"Last week we played out a very good result in Camp Nou, although 0-0 is a tricky result in a way, because of the away-goals rule.

"We are aware of it, though, so our aim in this leg is not to concede and to score at least one goal.

"We are not going to attack aimlessly but, on the other hand, it is clear that we must play more offensively than we did in Spain. Also, I think a lot depends on the first goal."

Giant club

Chelsea are also in the hunt for FA Cup glory this season, with a Wembley date against Everton awaiting in the final.

Cech is delighted to still be in the running for two major honours, with the ability to challenge for silverware on a consistent basis one of the major factors behind his decision to join the Blues in 2004.

"I am coming towards the end of my fifth season at Chelsea and I am glad that all of them have been interesting until the end, as we have always been challenging for trophies," he said.

"This, I think, shows the strength of Chelsea and proves that they deserve to be called a giant club.

"At the moment we are still chasing two trophies as I think the Premier League is out of reach.

"But we will be fighting all the way in that also and second spot is still a possibility, which would help us to qualify automatically for the Champions League group stages.

"Second place is still up for grabs and we will do our best to cut the three-point gap on Liverpool."