Petr Cech was a shock inclusion in Chelsea’s Premier League squad earlier this week. Despite the Czech having retired eighteen months ago to take up his current role as Technical and Performance Advisor at Stamford Bridge, manager Frank Lampard says he was included as emergency cover.
Lampard claimed that Cech was still enjoying training and this recent video clip of the 38-year-old shows the keeper is still in very good shape, especially as he hasn’t seen in any competitive action since he left Arsenal at the end of the 2018/19 season:
Petr Cech is fit, sharp, and ready to go! ??? pic.twitter.com/RC93pNVkLp
— Simon Phillips (@SiPhillipsSport) October 23, 2020
Supporters on Twitter can’t believe the shape that Cech is still in with many believing that the former Czech international’s inclusion in the squad all but spells the end for Kepa Arrizabalaga:
This is unreal. Our Technical director starting over our record signing ? 2020
— The Ghost of Damien Duff #LampardIn (@TrollFo76433749) October 23, 2020
Scenes
— عَقِيْل (@Aqeel__________) October 23, 2020
Kepa is finished
— Tuborking (@NelsonAyo5) October 23, 2020
Already better than Kepa.
— Pastor's Son? (@bio_cupid) October 23, 2020
1st choice!!
— まさる (@masaruuuu1105) October 23, 2020
Showing Kepa how it's done
— Sebastjan Kolenc (@KolencSebastjan) October 23, 2020
Give my techinal/performance advisor his number 1 back
— unbiased fan (@unbiasedfan1) October 23, 2020
He retired too early
— Gabriel Wergba (@GabWergba) October 23, 2020
While he is unlikely to be needed this season, with the Blues currently having three fit first-team goalkeepers, it is certainly not a bad thing to have a goalkeeping legend like Cech in your back pocket just in case you need him.