Petr Cech will take his return to Stamford Bridge with Arsenal in his stride and treat it like any other game, according to his goalkeeping coach for the Czech Republic.
Jan Stejskal, who spent four years playing in the top flight for Queens Park Rangers during the early 1990s, is a close confidant of the country’s No1 with the pair having worked together to help the Czechs qualify for Euro 2016 with two games to spare. He believes Cech’s mentality will not allow him to let the occasion affect his emotions.
“It was hard for him to leave but I think Chelsea’s fans will be good to him and he is a very intelligent guy,” said Stejskal, who communicates frequently with Cech by text message but says he will hold off from further contact until Saturday’s game has finished.
“I have known him for 15 years and he is still the same person – a great professional who has always worked very hard and wants to do the best at every job he does. When I met him he was very young and through his work ethic he has pushed himself forward.”
Stejskal said Cech’s move across London has been met positively in the Czech Republic, where the goalkeeper is a talisman. The 33-year-old has made 116 appearances since making his debut in February 2002.
The Czech Republic will be attempting at least to equal their quarter‑final finish at Euro 2012 when they travel to France this summer but, with top level players a rarity in Pavel Vrba’s squad, there is an acknowledgement that Cech needs to be among those playing regular football.
“For the Czech people it’s very good that Petr will be playing at Arsenal,” Stejskal said. “He will play for a big club every week and that is important.
“He went to Arsenal because he lost his place in the Chelsea team and wanted to be playing. It was important for him to stay in London, as his children are at an English school, so it was a good move.”
Cech kept a clean sheet against Chelsea in the Community Shield win but his competitive career at Arsenal started rockily, with West Ham United achieving an unexpected 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium after the goalkeeper’s mistake allowed Cheikhou Kouyaté to open the scoring. Stejskal believes Cech has bounced back from the early setback. “The first Premier League game at home was a hard one for him but every keeper makes some mistakes and he recovered to look strong and confident.”
