Petr Cech: Frank Lampard Sets the Tone – He Has Done a Remarkable Job

Former Czech international Petr Cech ended his playing career with Arsenal at the end of last season before rejoining Chelsea as a technical and performance advisor in June. (AFP)
Former Czech international Petr Cech ended his playing career with Arsenal at the end of last season before rejoining Chelsea as a technical and performance advisor in June. (AFP)
TT

Petr Cech: Frank Lampard Sets the Tone – He Has Done a Remarkable Job

Former Czech international Petr Cech ended his playing career with Arsenal at the end of last season before rejoining Chelsea as a technical and performance advisor in June. (AFP)
Former Czech international Petr Cech ended his playing career with Arsenal at the end of last season before rejoining Chelsea as a technical and performance advisor in June. (AFP)

Petr Cech began a new chapter when the curtain came down on his playing career after Arsenal’s defeat to Chelsea in the Europa League final last season. There has been no rest in retirement. Cech spent 11 successful years at Chelsea before joining Arsenal in 2015 and he returned to Stamford Bridge as the club’s technical and performance adviser in the summer.

The role has him working under Marina Granovskaia, Chelsea’s chief transfer negotiator, and he has settled well despite the challenge of adjusting to life away from the pitch. “The match days are the hardest,” Cech says. “For 20 years you work all week for the game. In my role you work the whole week for the game. But then I don’t have any participation in that game. It’s a very strange feeling.

“I used to be in the middle of it all and now I work towards the game, making sure everything works, and then the responsibility is to the manager and his staff, not me. I can only sit and support. As a player I hated the games I had to watch from the stands because I had no impact. This is the feeling I have to overcome. I am getting better. The more games you go to, the more you get used to the fact the match days are not about you. At the start it was a struggle. You want to be in there. But it was not for me any more.”

Cech is the best goalkeeper in Chelsea’s history, a hero of their Champions League win in 2012. That year he excelled in the semi-final victory over Barcelona and in the final against Bayern Munich. The German side surely would have won had Cech not saved Arjen Robben’s penalty in extra time.

Yet Cech was often efficient rather than spectacular and his interest in strategy might be why a technical role appeals. “As a goalkeeper you see everything,” he says. “The biggest part of my game was I could organize people to make my job much easier. You pay attention to why things are organized a certain way. You talk to people at the club. I was always a representative of the team talking to the board. I was always interested in how the club worked.

“I am getting my own ideas about what could work better. Generally when you work with a lot of different people at this level it is run by departments. But there are a lot. The best part for me is connecting the departments. This is my biggest target, to make sure everything is connected and works one way.

“The first team is the most important. But then we have the scouting, recruitment, the development squad, players who are on loan. All this works together. It will give the first team a much better platform and [let] the manager have an easier job and concentrate only on the pitch. This is something we have been trying to create. So far this season we have been working well.”

Chelsea were tipped to struggle this season and this was confirmed with a 1-3 defeat to Everton on Saturday. They now lie fourth in the Premier League table. Their transfer embargo left them unable to spend after selling Eden Hazard to Real Madrid and many wondered if a manager as inexperienced as Frank Lampard was the right person to replace Maurizio Sarri. Lampard has given opportunities to the club’s academy products.

“The manager with his coaching staff has done a remarkable job,” Cech says. “They managed to integrate players in the team. The senior players were a huge help for the young players. They help them become better and keep them grounded. And the biggest part is the coaching staff and the manager because he sets the tone on the training ground. He takes the biggest credit.”

Cech smiles about discipline under Lampard, who fines players £20,000 if they are late for training. “Some people find it surprising but we have always had huge fines at Chelsea,” he says. “The commitment to work is really important. To respect the rules is something where you need no talent. You can have zero talent, but you can be on time. It is about commitment. This is not to scare people. It is just to remind them that if you can control your discipline the better it will be for everybody.”

Cech does not remember Lampard ever being late for training and standards remain high, even if Chelsea’s spending power is eclipsed by City’s these days. Lampard has to win trophies, even if he is a club legend. At the same time, however, this feels like a different Chelsea. There is a sense that the impatience of old has been replaced by a more long-term approach.

“You have to adapt,” he says. “Arsenal was Arsène Wenger for 22 years. Chelsea had 22 managers in 22 years.” Cech laughs; the serious point is on the way. “I always worked for one thing: play the best game, train the best way, be the best possible version of yourself. This is how you stay when a new manager comes. When you make sure your job is the top, you can influence others. This kind of thing I can bring with me. I can influence others and hopefully everything will come together and the first team will benefit. Hopefully the whole club will benefit.”

It will be fascinating to see what Chelsea do if they are able to make signings in January. Yet there is a realization that sustainability is the way forward. Money means nothing if the people spending it have no vision and Chelsea have focused on building a structure around Lampard.

Cech is not the only retired player at the club: Carlo Cudicini looks after the loan players and Claude Makelele mentors youngsters. Joe Cole and Ashley Cole are also coaching in the academy. The impression is that Chelsea made a wise move bringing Cech home.

“It is a different life,” he says. “As a player you have a responsibility for yourself. For being part of the team. You are responsible for the club’s image. But now the responsibility is to work with a big group of people, to make sure they connect. The power of the team is in the unit. If everybody works for one common goal, this is how you win.”

The Guardian Sport



FIFA Announces Highest Ever Score in Bidding History for Saudi Arabia to Host World Cup 2034

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, announces the Kingdom's bid to host the FIFA World Cup™ 2034. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, announces the Kingdom's bid to host the FIFA World Cup™ 2034. (SPA)
TT

FIFA Announces Highest Ever Score in Bidding History for Saudi Arabia to Host World Cup 2034

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, announces the Kingdom's bid to host the FIFA World Cup™ 2034. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, announces the Kingdom's bid to host the FIFA World Cup™ 2034. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup has received a rating of 419.8 out of 500, the highest ever given by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to a file submitted to host the global event, the federation said on Friday.

The announcement was made less than two weeks before the official awarding of the FIFA World Cup hosts for 2030 and 2034 at the extraordinary FIFA congress on December 11.

As part of the bidding process, FIFA conducted an inspection visit in October to review the details of Saudi Arabia’s bid, where officials visited proposed host cities, stadiums, and facilities across the tournament footprint.

Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the landmark event reflects the Kingdom’s support from the highest level of leadership. It represents the backing of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and aligns with the ambitious objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, fulfilling the dreams and aspirations of the Saudi people.

Commenting on the report, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said: "I extend my deepest gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince for their support and empowerment, which played a pivotal role in achieving this outstanding result."

"Saudi Arabia is a footballing nation with a young population that truly love the game. Young people are looking to a bright future. This score by FIFA simply reflects our commitment to grow the game, our rapid transformation and our desire to host the best possible tournament for the entire world to enjoy," he added.

"It is the result of our extensive efforts to present an exceptional bid and a testament to the collaboration between multiple entities across the Kingdom, driven by Vision 2030, which has enabled all sectors to unite behind a bid that represents the aspirations of the Kingdom’s leadership and the ambitions of the Saudi people," he remarked.

Saudi Arabia officially submitted its bid in July under the slogan "Growing. Together", unveiling its ambitious plans to host the world’s first 48-team FIFA World Cup to be held in one country. The bid proposes matches across 15 stadiums in five host cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Abha, and NEOM, in addition to 10 other host locations across the Kingdom.

President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation Yasser Al-Misehal commented: "This exceptional score is the result of the leadership’s support and the guidance of the Crown Prince, whose vision has been the driving force behind the remarkable growth of the sports sector in Saudi Arabia."

"Through this bid, we are committed to delivering an extraordinary tournament experience for players, officials, and football fans worldwide. Football lives at the heart of Saudi culture, and we aim to provide an unforgettable experience that showcases the Kingdom’s rich heritage and the hospitality of its people," he stressed.

Head of the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034 bid unit Hammad Albalawi stated: "We take huge pride in this unprecedented score. It highlights the country’s collaborative efforts to present the highest technical standards throughout this bid."

"Our goal was to highlight how the significant progress we’ve already made in football can benefit the global game and demonstrate our commitment to deliver an exceptional experience for the world’s largest sporting event," he remarked.

"Our bid features five host cities with diverse cultures and landscapes, offering fans unique experiences to explore different regions of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the 10 other host locations will boost the experience for teams and fans with modern training facilities, advanced sports infrastructure, and excellent connectivity between sites," he stressed.

Hosting the FIFA World Cup 2034 represents a significant opportunity to showcase the ongoing progress the Kingdom has achieved since the launch of Vision 2030 by Crown Prince Mohammed. This vision has allowed the Kingdom to become a leader in hosting global sport, welcoming over 100 major events across various sports, including the FIFA Club World Cup and the Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Jeddah.

The Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034 bid supports the Vision 2030 goals of building a vibrant society, fostering athletic talent, contributing to the economy, and improving the quality of life for Saudi citizens and visitors alike. Additionally, the bid will continue to work collaboratively with the Saudi Green Initiative to deliver an environmentally sustainable and exceptional edition of the tournament.