I’ll admit, the reasoning given by Chelsea for bringing 38-year old technical director Petr Cech out of retirement are pretty convincing.
With the ‘unprecedented conditions’ of the current Covid-19 crisis, Chelsea have added Cech to their 25-man squad for this season as ’emergency goalkeeper cover’.
‘Petr Cech has been included in the squad as emergency goalkeeper cover. This is a precautionary step due to the unprecedented conditions currently caused by the Covid-19 crisis. He takes up a position as a non-contract player’. #cfc
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) October 20, 2020
Whilst a wise move, due to the possibility of one, two, or all three of their current goalkeepers getting the virus and being out of action, I’m not convinced this is the real reason.
I mean, we have one of the best academies in the world, surely we can use a keeper from their as a fourth choice emergency?
No, I believe the reason is much deeper than that. Frank Lampard, and the whole Chelsea fanbase were desperate to get Edouard Mendy back playing in goal against Sevilla last night, despite the initial expectation that he would miss the game through injury still.
I am not saying he was rushed back too soon, but in normal circumstances, trust would just be put in one of your backup goalkeepers to do a job and wait for Mendy until the next game just to be extra safe.
But here lies the problem, Lampard has zero trust in Kepa Arrizabalaga anymore, and very little trust in Willy Caballero.
So for me, bringing Cech back in is more shoring up his backup choice, rather than bringing in an emergency fourth choice goalkeeper.
I genuinely believe Cech is now our second best goalkeeper.
He is one year younger than Caballero, and he has still been training hard and keeping himself fit. Not only that, he has been regularly involved in Chelsea goalkeeper training recently….
And we all thought he was just coaching!