Chelsea legend Petr Cech is shock inclusion in Premier League squad

Petr Cech is an extremely surprising inclusion in Chelsea’s 25-man Premier League squad which they have named for the 2020/21 season.

The 38-year-old has been named alongside the other three Chelsea goalkeepers – Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Willy Caballero.

A club statement read: ‘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.’

Cech is currently working as a technical adviser at the club and last made a professional appearance in his last outing for Arsenal in the Europa League final, against Chelsea, in May 2019.

The Czech made 494 appearances for Chelsea from 2004-15, but remains unlikely to add to that tally as fourth choice behind Mendy, Kepa and Caballero.

Frank Lampard has recently spoken in glowing terms of the contribution Cech can offer on the training pitch to his current crop of goalkeepers, even if it isn’t his primary role at the club.

‘With Petr, he has so much give on that side of things,’ said the Chelsea manager. ‘Of course his day job here now is technical advisor and he is a great help on that front, and that has been brilliant for me to have that since being back at the club.

‘Having Petr train with the goalkeepers and bring his experience is a great thing, because he has great quality. I think he retired pretty young so he is training and keeping fit, which is healthy for him and for the goalkeepers in the squad. And that is as far as it goes.

‘It is something that is really positive for the goalkeepers and Petr enjoys doing it. So why not give back and give that experience to the goalkeepers?

‘There is no written rule over when he is out there. He is out there pretty often at the moment. I am very comfortable with that. Petr came to me and talked about it before he started training, at first it was because we were suffering with the squad and there were certain numbers, and now Petr is training very regularly with the group.

‘That can change at any time. It is not something I have a problem with anyway, our communication has always been good. It is something I like.

‘We are a tight-knit family here at Chelsea. That was one of my things when I came back to the club. It is not like I am going to get my boots back on and take part every day, but what we are trying to do is the group is together.

‘Petr has his job but he is also at times helping with the goalkeepers. Why would you not tap into having the best goalkeeper in the world to pass on that knowledge?’