Chelsea keeper Petr Cech retains the confidence of manager Guus Hiddink despite some less than confident performances in recent matches.

 

After a shaky last quarter against Bolton, the Fabio Aurelio free-kick in midweek did nothing to lighten the load of questions being asked as to the Czech internationals form. But Hiddink backed his keeper saying 'My thoughts about Cech are very positive. We don't neglect the reality because we want to be better and better and he knows he had one or two moments when it wasn't going as he wished. The goalie has every now and then a right to make an error as well.'

The dip in form of the Chelsea shot-stopper fueled some strange speculation recently when no lesser keeper that Spurs Heurelho Gomes was linked with a move across London. However, Hiddink also moved to dismiss this left-of-field rumour as having ‘not a grain of truth.‘

Meanwhile, Deco is out of the FA Cup semi-final after suffering a hamstring injury in training. Having been out for almost a month, it is a major disappointment for both the player and Hiddink who also has lost Jose Bosingwa to a similar injury.