Cech insists he is ‘100 per cent ready’ to play for Chelsea if Lampard needs him | OneFootball

Petr Cech has insisted he would be 100 per cent ready to play once again if he were called upon by Frank Lampard following his shock inclusion in Chelsea’s Premier League squad.

Cech established himself as one of the Premier League’s greatest ever goalkeepers during an 11 year spell at Chelsea between 2004 and 2015, before hanging up his gloves in 2019 after seeing out his playing days across London at Arsenal.

The former Czech international ‘keeper has since returned to Stamford Bridge as a technical advisor, leaving many shocked to see his name included in the Blues’ 25 man Premier League squad list last month following Chelsea’s recent struggles between the sticks.

Early impressions would suggest that those concerns have been somewhat lessened following the summer capture of Edouard Mendy from Rennes, and while Cech is not expected to be called upon, the 38-year-old club legend has admitted he feels physically ready for the demands of the English top flight.

“It’s true that it would have been a professional error to do this if I wasn’t at Premier League level, but that’s not the way we work here,” Cech told Telefoot.

“I know I’m 100 per cent ready to help if needs be. I’m fit, and with the two months of training, I’ve seen I have the same quality.

“Furthermore, I rested for a year without playing football. It really gave me energy, my body recovered after playing 20 years as a professional. If the circumstances put me on the pitch, I’m ready.”

Cech comfortably holds the all-time Premier League record for clean sheets, his 202 shut outs 33 more than former England number one, David James.

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