Cech ‘taken aback’ by continued Chelsea struggles

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has been “taken aback” by the inability of his former club Chelsea to turn around their poor form this season.

Cech claimed his fourth Premier League winners medal with Chelsea back in May but has seen the Blues slip into crisis since making the move across London to Arsenal.

Jose Mourinho’s men are 16th after losing seven of their 12 games, with Cech at a loss to explain why a team that strengthened in the summer are suffering such a slump in form.

“It makes me surprised,” Cech told Tyden. “It’s a team that six months ago won the league.

“Players stayed there, the coach added more to his liking. It is very hard to believe that the club is in such a state.

“I was surprised to see their suffering at the beginning of the league, but I was even more taken aback by the fact that the crisis still continues.”

Cech also revealed that he would prefer not to wear the protective helmet he has sported since sustaining a serious head injury nine years ago.

The 33-year-old says the helmet can sometimes leave him “completely lost”, such as in this season’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool, but he has no choice but to continue wearing it.

“I would be more confident if I had it off,” Cech said. “Whether you like it or not, with the helmet surroundings are perceived differently. You have your ears covered which results in worse hearing.

“The doctor forbade me to take off the helmet, and if I did, I would not have insurance! So I don’t really think about it.

“On the other hand, in the time I’ve worn a helmet, I’ve twice had a concussion. I do not want to think what would have happened to me without it.”