Cech undergoes surgery on fractured skull
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Petr Cech suffered a depressed fracture of the skull following his clash with Reading's Stephen Hunt, with Chelsea now facing a goalkeeping crisis for Wednesday's meeting with Barcelona.
Cech, the 24-year-old Czech Republic goalkeeper, was knocked unconscious in the opening minute at the Madejski Stadium in a clash that left boss Jose Mourinho fearing for his player's life.
Chelsea have confirmed that Cech underwent surgery after being transferred to the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford to their specialist neuro-surgical unit. It is unknown when he will return to action but he is expected to miss the Barca game.
Reserve goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini could also miss the Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge after he was also knocked unconscious against Reading, although he was discharged from hospital on the same evening as the match.
A statement from Chelsea confirmed: 'The operation was successful but it is too early to give an accurate assessment of his condition.
'Naturally everybody at Chelsea wishes Petr, and Carlo Cudicini - who was discharged last night after being knocked unconscious - a speedy recovery from their injuries.'
It means Chelsea are set to start third-choice goalkeeper Hilario. The 30-year-old joined the Premiership champions on a free transfer from Portuguese top-flight club CD Nacional and has yet to make his debut.
Mourinho was furious with Hunt following Saturday's 1-0 victory, claiming the Royals player was laughing after inflicting the injury.
He also believes Hunt's challenge is similar to Ben Thatcher's infamous clash with Pedro Mendes, for which the Manchester City defender received a lengthy ban.
'I am not surprised by what Petr has - to be alive he was lucky,' Mourinho said after the match.
Chelsea have backed Mourinho's comments, and their statement added: 'Chelsea FC has reviewed the video of both incidents. We endorse the post-match comments of Jose Mourinho regarding the seriousness of these incidents.
'Chelsea will be writing to the Football Association with our observations.' -
that's terrible
i hope the other goalie is all right -
wow so serious ah...
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yeah.. remember he wasn't moving for a long time after he was kicked in the head.. i knew it was bad...
i hope he gets well as soon as possible.. i hate it when someone is injured.. especially when he was so brave going for that ball... -
at 23 seconds.
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ouch..!!!
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I didn't watch the first 15mins... so i didn't see how it happened. But Mourinho seems angry enough to say it is comparable to Ben Thatcher's forearm smash on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes and now wants the FA to punish Hunt. He said: "I have to wait and see what the FA is going to do about it.
The question is did the referee saw the incident and settle it there and then? If he did, then the FA can't do anything about it already right... As they say, if the referee have settle it there and then, Then the FA should consider the matter close if the referee missed it then the FA can make a call on it right?
Was the challenge on Cech a 50/50 ball? -
a freak accident. speedy recovery cech.
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they play cech for far too many games.
cudicini didnt even play even games to win the premiership medal. with the lack of match practice they might end up paying for it. -
Originally posted by dragg:
u dun rotate ur keepers unless necessary.
they play cech for far too many games.
cudicini didnt even play even games to win the premiership medal. with the lack of match practice they might end up paying for it. -
tell that to benitezOriginally posted by monoslayer:u dun rotate ur keepers unless necessary.
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benitez probably shld rotate his keepersOriginally posted by used:tell that to benitez -
the ball was there to be won.. Cech got there first and the momentum carried Hunt into Cech.. he pulled out his foot but his knee stuck Cech's head.. it was just unfortunate..
sort of like Sonko's bodycheck.. Sonko was entitled to challenge and unfortunately, he smashed into Cudicini...
i hope both will be wellOriginally posted by zocoss:I didn't watch the first 15mins... so i didn't see how it happened. But Mourinho seems angry enough to say it is comparable to Ben Thatcher's forearm smash on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes and now wants the FA to punish Hunt. He said: "I have to wait and see what the FA is going to do about it.
The question is did the referee saw the incident and settle it there and then? If he did, then the FA can't do anything about it already right... As they say, if the referee have settle it there and then, Then the FA should consider the matter close if the referee missed it then the FA can make a call on it right?
Was the challenge on Cech a 50/50 ball? -
50-50 ball. IMO, no one is to blame.Originally posted by the Bear:the ball was there to be won.. Cech got there first and the momentum carried Hunt into Cech.. he pulled out his foot but his knee stuck Cech's head.. it was just unfortunate..
sort of like Sonko's bodycheck.. Sonko was entitled to challenge and unfortunately, he smashed into Cudicini...
i hope both will be well -
Yeah..agreed.Originally posted by monoslayer:50-50 ball. IMO, no one is to blame. -
perharps john terry will b between the post when they face barca tis thursday...
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Thanks for the youtube clip used... i missed that part. From the way it went, it didn't look malicious what... So the referee did settle it there and then...
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I think Cudicini isn't hurt that badly... can play on wed or he can still be on the bench as 2nd choice cos still got the experience Hilario what...
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he need not rotate the keepers. just play cudicini against the weaker clubs or the less important tournaments like the league or FA cup.Originally posted by monoslayer:u dun rotate ur keepers unless necessary. -
how come??Originally posted by monoslayer:u dun rotate ur keepers unless necessary. -
it is obvious as keeper can get more experience and more used to the gameplay in the league or champions league atomsphere thus using a particular keeper long term is of coz better but once in a while rotate put pressure on the 1st team keeper to perform but this pressure can make or break himOriginally posted by sand king:how come?? -
all great keepers neevr gets rotated cuz they're aren't expected to get injured.
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Chelsea goalkeepers lucky to escape with lives
tribalfooball.com - October 15, 2006
Chelsea goalkeepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini escaped with their lives after their heavy clashes in Saturday's win at Reading.
Cech could be out for the season with a depressed fracture of the skull following a challenge by Reading's Stephen Hunt on Saturday.
And Cech's back-up Cudicini was warned he could risk his life if he rushes his return after being laid out by Ibrahima Sonko and swallowing his tongue during the Blues' 1-0 win.
Czech international Cech underwent emergency surgery yesterday and is unlikely to play again this season after being caught on the side of the head by Hunt's knee with just 15 seconds played at the Madejski Stadium.
Although he was conscious immediately after the challenge, his condition deteriorated in the visitors' dressing room as further tests were carried out.
As worried medics waited for an ambulance, Cech collapsed and lost consciousness.
He was joined at the Royal Berkshire Hospital by Cudicini, the victim of a thunderous mid-air collision with powerhouse defender Sonko.
The Italian stopper had already swallowed his tongue and was turning purple by the time chief medical officer Bryan English reached him.
Luckily, English was able to release Cudicini's tongue by manipulation of the player's jaw before he was rushed to hospital in a neck brace.
Referee Mike Riley did not even award a free-kick for Sonko's challenge and Cudicini was lying unconscious in the goalmouth when Didier Drogba cleared off the line.
Both keepers underwent brain scans and spinal x-rays before Cudicini was discharged late on Saturday night.
Cech was transferred to the specialist neurosurgical unit at Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford for yesterday's operation.
Blues boss Jose Mourinho revealed: "I am not worried about the Barcelona match right now. I am worried only about the health of our two friends Petr and Carlo. They both lost consciousness, completely knocked out.
"Petr recovered a little bit in the dressing room but a few seconds later he passed out again and had to go to hospital. Carlo was out cold.
"It's difficult to lose two keepers in the same match. I could accept if it was due to a red card and a muscle injury or something like that. But not because of violent conduct.
"Carlo was injured by the violent way he hit the ground. Sonko pushed him, not in a dirty way, but he deserved a second yellow card.
"But the challenge on Cech was unbelievable. To go in on a sliding goalkeeper with the knee is an unbelievable action.
"There is no chance that was an accident. You'll have to ask Hunt if he meant to put Cech in hospital but he knew what he was doing, that's for sure." -
Chelsea keeper Cech could be out for season
tribalfooball.com - October 15, 2006
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech could be out for the season after an emergency op on his fractured skull yesterday.
Chelsea's keeper, 24, had surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
Cech was caught in the head by the knee of Reading's Stephen Hunt. In the same match on Saturday, deputy Carlo Cudicini swallowed his tongue following a collision and is out for 10 days.
Cech's wife Martina was in tears after visiting him before his op. The one bit of good news for Cudicini was that he was discharged from hospital.
He was hurt in a massive collision with Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko during the clash at the Madejski Stadium.
Third-choice keeper Henrique Hilario will now have to play in Wednesday's Champions League showdown against Barcelona.
Chelsea last night confirmed that Cech, operated on in the neuro-surgical unit of Oxford's Radcliffe Infirmary, has a depressed fracture of the skull.
They do not yet know when their Czech international star will be fit to play again.
FA insiders admit it will be virtually impossible to take further action against Hunt.
But Jose Mourinho believes the FA set a precedent when they hit Manchester City's Ben Thatcher with a retrospective eight-match ban for elbowing Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes.
Yet the FA's disciplinary committee must be able to prove Hunt set out to injure Cech.
And they do not feel this incident is anything like as clear-cut as the Thatcher challenge.
Ironically, Sonko could still be punished for his challenge. The player had already been booked and, if Riley now feels he deserved a second yellow, Sonko would get a one-match ban.