On a day of carnage, Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech suffered a fractured skull during Saturday's game against Reading which Chelsea won 1-0. But not only did Cech get injured but their substitute goalkeeper Cudicini - brought on after Cech was taken off and taken to hospital - ALSO suffered a serious injury and was ALSO taken to hospital after HE was also knocked unconscious and swallowed his tongue. That meant that Chelsea defender John Terry then had to play as goalkeeper. The English Champions will now have to use third choice goalkeeper Hilario against Barcelona in their Champions League clash.
Two plates in Cech's head
Horror ... Cech lies stricken after pitch collision
By RICHARD WHITE
October 17, 2006
CHELSEA keeper Petr Cech suffered the force of a car crash in his horror injury, The Sun can reveal.
The Czech international, 24, had two metal plates inserted in his skull.
Thankfully the Stamford Bridge hero, injured when Reading star Stephen Hunt’s knee caught his head, was on the mend last night and was visited by team-mates.
But medics fear a repeat injury in the same place could be life-threatening and question his ability to continue in football.
A source said: “The player has suffered an extremely serious skull injury. When he was taken off sedative, he had no idea what had happened or where he was.
Concern ... team-mates Joe Cole and Didier Drogba arrive at hospital
“His X-ray showed the extent of damage he suffered. His skull has clearly been cracked. This injury is something you might expect from a car crash — not a game of football.” Cech’s frantic wife Martina, also 24, spent the weekend at his bedside at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford.
The Sun can also reveal how the extent of his injury dawned on Chelsea medics as they treated him on the pitch at Reading’s Madejski Stadium during Saturday’s Premiership clash.
Thirty seconds after the collision, Cech was too dazed to speak — but the Blues’ medical team were not unduly concerned.
Five minutes later, however, he had forgotten how he got injured or the name of the hotel where he stayed the night before. He was stretchered off and rushed to the local Royal Berkshire Hospital.
Staff said the goalkeeper was sedated before he had a brain scan and spinal X-rays. Amazingly Cech was joined at the hospital by back-up ’keeper Carlo Cudicini after he was knocked unconscious and swallowed his TONGUE in the same match.
Cudicini was treated and discharged, but Cech was transferred to the specialist neurosurgical unit at Radcliffe Infirmary at 1am on Sunday. He had a drainage tube removed from his head yesterday and was moved to the hospital’s High Dependency Unit.
He will now undergo at least one week of rehabilitation before being discharged. He is expected to make an excellent recovery and will be able to lead a normal life.
Cech’s mum Libuse Cechova last night spoke of her horror at seeing the moment he was injured on TV.
Visitors ... Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, captain John Terry, and wife Martina make a trip to the hospital
inset, Petr before the blow
She said: “It was terrible to see. Martina is still with him and I’m planning to fly to England to see him with his father.” Dad Vaclav said: “Petr is very happy in England. It makes us feel better to know that so many people are rooting for him.”
Among those who visited Cech in hospital yesterday were Chelsea colleagues Joe Cole, Didier Drogba, John Terry, Arjen Robben and manager Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho, who faced a goalkeeping crisis after the double injury blow, insisted he was more concerned with Cech’s recovery.
He said: “I just want the human being safe at home with the family, walking, laughing, eating and doing all the normal things. The human being is more important than a football result.”
A statement from the Premiership champions read: “Chelsea Football Club is pleased to confirm that Petr Cech’s condition is improving. The club is grateful to everybody for their concern and good wishes.”
thesun.co.uk
Two plates in Cech's head
Horror ... Cech lies stricken after pitch collision
October 17, 2006
CHELSEA keeper Petr Cech suffered the force of a car crash in his horror injury, The Sun can reveal.
The Czech international, 24, had two metal plates inserted in his skull.
Thankfully the Stamford Bridge hero, injured when Reading star Stephen Hunt’s knee caught his head, was on the mend last night and was visited by team-mates.
But medics fear a repeat injury in the same place could be life-threatening and question his ability to continue in football.
A source said: “The player has suffered an extremely serious skull injury. When he was taken off sedative, he had no idea what had happened or where he was.
Concern ... team-mates Joe Cole and Didier Drogba arrive at hospital
“His X-ray showed the extent of damage he suffered. His skull has clearly been cracked. This injury is something you might expect from a car crash — not a game of football.” Cech’s frantic wife Martina, also 24, spent the weekend at his bedside at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford.
The Sun can also reveal how the extent of his injury dawned on Chelsea medics as they treated him on the pitch at Reading’s Madejski Stadium during Saturday’s Premiership clash.
Thirty seconds after the collision, Cech was too dazed to speak — but the Blues’ medical team were not unduly concerned.
Five minutes later, however, he had forgotten how he got injured or the name of the hotel where he stayed the night before. He was stretchered off and rushed to the local Royal Berkshire Hospital.
Staff said the goalkeeper was sedated before he had a brain scan and spinal X-rays. Amazingly Cech was joined at the hospital by back-up ’keeper Carlo Cudicini after he was knocked unconscious and swallowed his TONGUE in the same match.
Cudicini was treated and discharged, but Cech was transferred to the specialist neurosurgical unit at Radcliffe Infirmary at 1am on Sunday. He had a drainage tube removed from his head yesterday and was moved to the hospital’s High Dependency Unit.
He will now undergo at least one week of rehabilitation before being discharged. He is expected to make an excellent recovery and will be able to lead a normal life.
Cech’s mum Libuse Cechova last night spoke of her horror at seeing the moment he was injured on TV.
Visitors ... Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, captain John Terry, and wife Martina make a trip to the hospital
inset, Petr before the blow
She said: “It was terrible to see. Martina is still with him and I’m planning to fly to England to see him with his father.” Dad Vaclav said: “Petr is very happy in England. It makes us feel better to know that so many people are rooting for him.”
Among those who visited Cech in hospital yesterday were Chelsea colleagues Joe Cole, Didier Drogba, John Terry, Arjen Robben and manager Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho, who faced a goalkeeping crisis after the double injury blow, insisted he was more concerned with Cech’s recovery.
He said: “I just want the human being safe at home with the family, walking, laughing, eating and doing all the normal things. The human being is more important than a football result.”
A statement from the Premiership champions read: “Chelsea Football Club is pleased to confirm that Petr Cech’s condition is improving. The club is grateful to everybody for their concern and good wishes.”
thesun.co.uk