Petr Cech questions decade-long Mauricio Pochettino tactic that risks ruining Chelsea key man
PETR CECH fears that Mauricio Pochettino’s philosophy over goalkeepers risks ruining Djordje Petrovic’s Chelsea career.
The 24-year-old Serbia international joined the Blues last summer from New England Revolution for £12.5million.
Petr Cech discusses how Dorde Petrovic is doing between the posts for Chelsea
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After struggling for minutes, he finally got a chance in Chelsea’s XI following an injury to Robert Sanchez.
Petrovic has since featured 15 times for his new side, and fans have been impressed with his shot-stopping skills between the sticks.
Indeed, some have even compared the 6ft 4in stopper to Stamford Bridge legend and four-time Premier League winner Cech.
And the man himself appears to be a fan of Petrovic.
However, he feels the gloveman is already being misused by Pochettino in west London.
Appearing on Monday Night Football ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Crystal Palace, Cech highlighted how Petrovic is being instructed to remain in deep positions on his goal line.
Cech believes that although this gives Petrovic more time to react to shots, it also creates a bigger target for opponents bearing down on goal with the ball.
And the Chelsea icon believes it stems from Pochettino’s Spanish roots, with the same philosophy being seen for years at previous clubs like Southampton and Tottenham.
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Cech explained: “In this position, in my liking, he’s too deep. That’s the philosophy you (the manager) have.
“Generally there are two philosophies in goalkeeping. Whether you want to take a more advanced position for shots, you close the gap, the angle, the goal, but you have less reaction time.
“Or you drop deep on the goal line, therefore you might have a little more time for a save but you open the goal
“Pochettino’s goalkeeper coach has been with him from Tottenham, he has the philosophy of ‘OK you drop back, you always create space’.
“I think it’s the Spanish philosophy, I personally am the other way around. In a lot of situations to closing the angle and having less reaction time but having less space to cover, for me, is the advantage.”
Unfortunately for Petrovic, he didn’t get a chance to prove Cech wrong after conceding a first-half goal against Palace.
The goalie was glued to his line as Jefferson Lerma’s rocket from distance beat him into the top corner.