Defence has been immense, says Cech
The 1-0 victory at Norwich on St Stephen’s Day made it six points from six over the Christmas period for the European champions, and not since games against Wolves and Newcastle in November last year had Chelsea enjoyed back-to-back league wins and clean sheets at the same time.
That was simply unacceptable for goalkeeper Cech, who has spent most of his Stamford Bridge career playing behind one of the stingiest back fours around.
And having previously laid into his team-mates for gifting the opposition too many chances this season, the 30-year-old was quick to praise their rediscovered resilience in preventing goals.
“We were conceding too many goals, playing really open,” Cech said, hailing the recent shift as “a very good sign”.
“Suddenly, we are defending as a team much better — that is the key.
“Now we are back to our ways when we are difficult to score against.”
Part of Chelsea’s problem had been that their back four was being left exposed by the apparent unwillingness by their team-mates to track back.
Cech added: “I think we need the whole team to defend.
“We have really attacking-minded players. Sometimes, we were not making the right choices in terms of defensive transitions and that is what has improved. We are passing more and organising.”
Benitez’s methods have certainly won Cech over, even if they may never gain the acceptance of supporters who will forever see the former Liverpool boss as the enemy.
Cech said: “He came with slightly different ideas, it’s working so far, and hopefully it will continue.”
The win at Carrow Road moved Chelsea to within four points of second-placed Manchester City and kept them 11 behind Manchester United, with a game in hand on both, Cech said: “Obviously, we have closed the gap on City.
“This is another positive for us, to keep getting points to get as close as we can to Man United and City.”
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