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Chelsea's Petr Cech sympathises with under-fire Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea
The Czech Republic international has backed his opposite number to adapt to life in the Premier League ahead of the two sides' meeting at Stamford Bridge on Sunday
3 Feb 2012 22:58:00
By Danny Hart
Getty Images
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has defended David de Gea ahead of his side's clash with Manchester United on Sunday.
The Spaniard is set to regain his spot in goal due to an injury to Anders Lindegaard, who has been preferred by Sir Alex Ferguson in recent weeks, which will see him miss four to six weeks.
De Gea has come under criticism since his big-money move from Atletico Madrid last summer but Cech says he can sympathise with his opposite number and has backed him to adjust to the English game.
"You could see with De Gea at the start there was a challenge in the air which normally would have been given in Spain as a foul and was not given here and you could see the surprise," he told Chelsea TV.
"You could see every time it happened, he was surprised.
"This is where you sympathise with the guy because you know you have to learn quickly to adapt.
"I think he's doing well in terms of improving and understanding the game, but it takes time to adapt."
Cech's Chelsea team-mate Fernando Torres, who also moved to England from Atletico, echoed the keeper's thoughts that referees give more protection to players in Spain.
He said: "In Spain, the keepers are very protected from the referees.
"It's a massive difference in England, when the strikers or defenders can block the keeper and it's just 'Play on'.
"I am sure he's trying to improve that part, but it's not easy."
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The Spaniard is set to regain his spot in goal due to an injury to Anders Lindegaard, who has been preferred by Sir Alex Ferguson in recent weeks, which will see him miss four to six weeks.
De Gea has come under criticism since his big-money move from Atletico Madrid last summer but Cech says he can sympathise with his opposite number and has backed him to adjust to the English game.
"You could see with De Gea at the start there was a challenge in the air which normally would have been given in Spain as a foul and was not given here and you could see the surprise," he told Chelsea TV.
"You could see every time it happened, he was surprised.
"This is where you sympathise with the guy because you know you have to learn quickly to adapt.
"I think he's doing well in terms of improving and understanding the game, but it takes time to adapt."
Cech's Chelsea team-mate Fernando Torres, who also moved to England from Atletico, echoed the keeper's thoughts that referees give more protection to players in Spain.
He said: "In Spain, the keepers are very protected from the referees.
"It's a massive difference in England, when the strikers or defenders can block the keeper and it's just 'Play on'.
"I am sure he's trying to improve that part, but it's not easy."
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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Live!
England 1-0 Belgium, Netherlands 4-0 Northern Ireland - follow all the international action LIVE! ahead of Euro 2012
With countries across the continent gearing up for their final warm-up games ahead of Euro 2012, join us for all the action from Saturday's friendlies. Get in touch with us via Twitter with your reaction.
Hosted by Joe Doyle
Hosted by Joe Doyle
20:06 BST
So, that game gave a few players a chance to impress for England. Who did/didn't? Will Welbeck start against France? Or Carroll? Or Defoe?!
19:59 BST
Unfortunately for Northern Ireland, they are trailing the Netherlands 4-0 at half-time. Looks like that one's all sewn up then.
19:54 BST
We're still getting plenty of Hazard chat on Twitter. A few are now saying that he's not worth the hype, others saying he was brilliant(!?) and others (which I agree with), saying he created much of his own hype. What do you think? Get involved!
19:46 BST
Joe Hart has also been giving his thoughts after the Belgium game: "It was a really tough game, a good run out. I thought we played well, [but] we were a little bit bitty at times.
"But, we came through. Obviously there were a lot of changes so it's good to get the result.
"Belgium are a very, very strong side who are going to be really good in the future. Vincent [Kompany] told me about them and said that they were coming good and I totally agree with him."
"But, we came through. Obviously there were a lot of changes so it's good to get the result.
"Belgium are a very, very strong side who are going to be really good in the future. Vincent [Kompany] told me about them and said that they were coming good and I totally agree with him."
19:38 BST
Here's Roy Hodgson's reaction to the result and some injury chat: "I'm very pleased, it's been a hard week and we've used a lot of players. There was a lot of disruption in the second-half with substitutions – some forced upon us, some we wanted to do. But it's still a very good end to the week playing against a good Belgian team here. Arguably even stronger than the Norwegian team we played last week and I've got to be more than happy that we've come out with another victory."
"[Gary] Cahill I suppose is slightly more of a concern for me because it is a jaw injury. We're desperately hoping the CT scan doesn't show any fracture and it's just going to be a bruising situation, which will be bad enough, but won't stop him taking part in the tournament. As far as John's [Terry] concerned he felt his hamstring a little bit. Again it wasn't a major thing when he came off but we still need to scan it just to be 100 per cent sure."
Suffice to say, if Cahill has broken his jaw, he won't play any part in the tournament.
"[Gary] Cahill I suppose is slightly more of a concern for me because it is a jaw injury. We're desperately hoping the CT scan doesn't show any fracture and it's just going to be a bruising situation, which will be bad enough, but won't stop him taking part in the tournament. As far as John's [Terry] concerned he felt his hamstring a little bit. Again it wasn't a major thing when he came off but we still need to scan it just to be 100 per cent sure."
Suffice to say, if Cahill has broken his jaw, he won't play any part in the tournament.
Inside Goal.Com
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