Petr Cech’s Injury Paves Way For Mark Schwarzer During EPL, UCL Climax

*Mark on duty: Getty Images

  MARK Schwarzer says he “relished” the opportunity to play on the UEFA Champions League semi-final stage and will now get the chance to play a crucial role in the EPL title race and UEFA Champions League title pursuit, with Petr Cech ruled out for the season.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho got what he came for, with Chelsea mounting a resolute defensive gameplan, but departs Madrid having lost Cech for the season, while John Terry will only be fit to play again if Chelsea makes it to the final in Lisbon.
There will be many neutrals ridiculing Mourinho’s snooze-fest at the Vincente Calderon, but without Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o, then Cech, then Terry, he masterminded a performance that rendered the La Liga leaders toothless. As frustrating as it was for the neutral.
Schwarzer, who became the oldest UEFA Champions League player to feature in the knock-out stages, said: “We knew before the game how difficult they were going to be. They’ve got a very good strikeforce, they can attack you from any angle, we knew we had to be very strong defensively, set up well and possibly get them on a counter.
.“Overall, we were pretty comfortable all night.”
Mourinho said: “This result means even more that the game will be decided by fine details in the second leg.
“We had problems before the game and during the game, we lost four players; two with injuries and 2 with yellow cards, but we will fight.
“We were speaking about playing the game of our lives before and now he game of the lives is at Stamford Bridge.”
Schwarzer was summoned off the bench in the first-half when Cech was hammered after a tipping an in-swinging corner over the bar.
“There’s not a lot of preparation you can actually do for that,” Schwarzer told Fox Sports, in Madrid, after the match.
“It’s an unusual situation for me throughout the season sitting on the bench not playing as much as I’m used to playing, but it was a decision I made and I was getting a little bit used to it.
“I was disappointed with the way I played on the weekend, so it was in the back of my mind the way I played against Sunderland, but also, I thought: you’ve just got to be ready.
“Tonight proved that in football it can just happen in a split second.
“What’s unfortunate for Petr was an opportunity for me to play.”
 “But he had very little to do throughout the amtch. I think he would’ve been quietly happy with the way the game unfolded for him; disappointed his teammates didn’t score any goals.”
Diego Simeone’s side struggled to force the issue when it was handed so much possession by Chelsea, who retreated deep and defended with an impenetrable shape and work-rate.
Most of its attack revolved around diagonal balls into the area, which Chelsea’s defence handled well for the most part.
“It was a classic example of a Champions League semi-final with both teams playing with their own objectives,” Simeone said.
“Ours was to score, but they have a very good defence and defended very well. “The tie is completely open. They are playing at home and will feel better after tonight, but we will see what happens.”
Now, the attention turns to Chelsea’s glamour EPL tie with Liverpool. But could Mourinho be about to play his cards all on the Champions League return leg?
“I can’t decide by myself,” Mourinho said.
“I think that’s a decision I have to listen the club. I’m just a piece, I’m just the manager and no more than that.
“I have to listen to the club. I think the fact that the match is on Sunday I think puts the problem not in my hands.
“We represent English football and we are the only English team that is European competition. Spain has four and gave them all the conditions to try to have success.
“I know what I would do, but I’m not the club. I have to speak with the club.
“I would play with the players that are not going to play Wednesday.”