Cech believes his headgear ‘saved’ Zouma

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech believes the protective headgear he wears saved him and Kurt Zouma from serious injury when the pair collided during Tuesday’s Capital One Cup win over Derby.

Cech, who has been wearing the special helmet since fracturing his skull in a game against Reading in October 2006, clattered into the French centre-back as he punched clear a corner.

The incident left Zouma needing around six minutes of treatment and he was taken off on a stretcher suffering with dizziness and a cut mouth.

Cech said: “I think we clashed heads because I had a huge hit on my right side of the head, and obviously when I got the ball away I was just looking where the ball went.

“He was lucky that he hit my helmet, because the impact would have been much bigger than that.

Zouma was stretchered off with his neck in a brace
Zouma was stretchered off with his neck in a brace

“I think it [the helmet] actually saved him. Maybe me as well. But because he hit most of the helmet, I think it took away a bit of the impact.

“There was a good punch – so I was happy with that. But then he’s lying on the floor. So I was a bit concerned because we collided in a heavy clash.”

Zouma, 20, was fine after the game and did not need to go to hospital – much to Cech’s relief.

“The medical staff did really well to quickly assess the situation,” Cech added.

“Obviously in this kind of clash you never know. He didn’t look too good to continue – obviously that was the right choice.”

Cech, who has started all three Capital One Cup ties this season and is back as the number one keeper following a muscular injury to Thibaut Courtois, said the team’s approach to a tricky match was impressive.

“I like the way that we approach games,” the 32-year-old said. “We want to win every game, and then you see what you win.

“You cannot go and just say ‘ok – we leave this competition, we just chase this competition’, because in that competition you pick, you have one unlucky game and you are out and you have nothing.

“So you can’t treat competitions like that. It is why we try to win every game, and we try to progress in every competition. And we have been doing so.

“We progressed in the Champions League. We are progressing in the Capital One Cup. We are still top of the Premier League. So far we’ve been doing well.”

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