Keeping Confident

The 50th European game of his career may not have ended with the shut-out he was hoping for but Petr Cech was more than happy with the outcome and the two names on the Chelsea goal sheet.

Our keeper may have been the furthest player from the action when Frank Lampard confidently drove home his penalty chance but he sensed the emotion no less, and similarly when Didier Drogba smashed home his two first-time strikes.

'When Frank got the call to take the penalty after what happened to him and scored, I was especially delighted for him,' Cech confirms. 'And I was also happy for Didier when a lot of people have accused him of diving and whatsoever.

'We didn't just defend, we scored the first goal which was a big advantage for us but when Liverpool equalised, they didn't change the way they played because they didn't need to.

'They could defend and wait for the counter attack which was their plan for the visit. We needed to be careful and make sure we didn't concede another one. It went to extra-time and mentally we showed that we could handle the pressure. We were confident enough to search for another goal.

'It was a bit of an advantage for Liverpool in that they don't need much to ensure they are in fourth place in the league so they could change half a team,' Cech points out.

'That was a great chance to be fresh for the semi-final but we showed we could cope with it.'

Indeed it was the Blues who, despite an energy-sapping pitch due to heavy rain, kicked for the finishing line in extra-time with the two goals that looked to have sealed it. That was until Ryan Babel's superbly-struck shot from over 30 yards that found a way past Cech.

'The ball moved at the last moment and I went with both hands instead of one because I thought I was going to have enough on the ball - but it was the wrong choice,' he admits.

'I was delighted there was only a couple of minutes to go and we kept the ball well. We pulled all together in the right direction.

'There was a lot of passion and a lot of emotion and for the fans watching it was a great game. There was a lot of emotion in the dressing room also.'

Now thoughts turn to what has become a double-headed contest with Manchester United for the two big club prizes.

'It just shows how difficult and great the Premier League is at the moment,' Cech says.

'Two teams in the final is great for English football and it will be interesting for us because we know each other, we are both playing for the title and there is a great rivalry as well.

'We've got a good record against Man United. We want to win both competitions and we have a chance to do it.'

More reaction to the win from Avram Grant, Joe Cole, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien can be seen on Chelsea TV's Blues News tonight at 6.30pm and online on Chelsea Plus.

Petr Cech's new goalkeeper kit for the 2008/9 season can be pre-ordered from the Online Megastore.