Chelsea goalkeeping coach Carlo Cudicini expects Petr Cech to be fired up for the Europa League final between Arsenal and the Blues on Wednesday.
Cech is expected to start the game for the Gunners after serving as Unai Emery’s keeper in Cup competitions this season. It will be a very emotional day for the 37-year-old. It will mark the final professional appearance of his distinguished career. In addition to this, it will also see him come up against his former club Chelsea.
It was at Stamford Bridge where Cech spent the bulk of his career and he helped the club to win four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three Football League Cups, one Champions League and one Europa League.
He joined Arsenal in 2015 after Chelsea made Thibaut Courtois their first-choice goalkeeper. During his time at the Emirates, Cech has served the Gunners with distinction even though he has been past his prime and he has gone on to make 110 League appearances for the club.
The final of the Europa League is going to be a very emotional game for Cech. He will be wanting to end his professional career by helping Arsenal to win a trophy and their first under new boss Emery who took over from Arsene Wenger last summer. At the same time, it will be hard for him to help his club defeat Chelsea.
“It’s a big match for Petr, it’s his last match at the end of an unbelievable career and his last chance to win a trophy,” Cudicini said as quoted by The Express.
“Also he will play against a club which has been an important part of his life and career.
“It’s a huge, huge match for Petr but he is a professional and he is intelligent.
“For sure all of these things will play an emotional part for him.
“But once you are on the pitch, you forget everything and you play to win the trophy – Petr will do that.
“For us (Chelsea) he is obviously an enemy for 90 or 120 minutes, for however long we are on the pitch.”
