Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech insists he would like to stay at
Stamford Bridge for possibly another decade, so long as he stays
fit.
Cech was criticised earlier in the season when Carlo
Ancelotti's men were conceding goals from set-pieces, but he has
been back to his best recently and in the Premier League victory
over Arsenal last week produced crucial saves.
The 27-year-old has a contract until 2013 and, when asked
about spending the next 10 years at the club, said: "If I stay fit,
at least as I am now, then I'll play as long as I can because this
career is normally pretty short and everyone wants to make the most
of it.
"It all depends on how fit you stay and how well you play
because suddenly you're not as fast and your reaction is not the
same.
"You can compensate it with a bit of experience, but there
always comes a point when you know it's not going to be the same,
so it depends how long this is going to take."
Cech has helped Chelsea win the Premier League twice but is
yet to enjoy Champions League glory - and if they are to win it
this season they will need to get past former boss Jose Mourinho.
Cech will travel to Italy next week for the first leg of the
last-16 clash against Mourinho's Inter Milan.
Chelsea are currently top of the Premier League but Cech told
Chelsea Magazine: "Always the Champions League is our aim and you
can see that we've been playing for it every season and we've gone
far, but the aim is the same.
"The Champions League is the only trophy this club is missing
so I think that is what everyone would like to win."
He added: "For the fans, for the players and for everyone
linked with the club, I think it is going to be a special occasion
(against Inter).
"I said before the draw, right before Christmas, that if the
English and Italian media wanted a gift from Santa Claus it would
be Chelsea versus Inter or Man United against AC Milan and, in the
end, it did happen, which is perfect."
Cech's recent form has led to praise from Ancelotti, who also
defended the Czech Republic international during his shaky period
earlier in the campaign.
The former Rennes goalkeeper has explained the challenges of
being number one for a successful team who do not give their
opposition many clear-cut chances.
"Sometimes it is hard because when you have 10 or 15 minutes
without touching the ball, and then suddenly something happens, you
have to be there," he said.
"It's tough mentally because sometimes you can have one shot
against you and it's a goal. It can be a brilliant goal, when
basically the whole game you haven't touched the ball, and you're
just getting it out of the net.
"The ability you have is always important but if you want to
win the game you have to keep your concentration for the full 90
minutes at the top level.
"Not everyone can adapt to that because in the past so many
great keepers from mid-table sides come to a big club and it hasn't
worked for them.
"They couldn't get used to the fact you only have one, two,
maybe a maximum of three things to do throughout the game and you
have to be spot on."
