PETR CECH’S FAST RECOVERY FROM A fractured skull has been one of the more uplifting features of Chelsea’s season so it was appropriate that his bravery should play a crucial role in their FA Cup triumph. The Czech Republic goalkeeper revealed yesterday that he was kicked in the face – albeit accidentally – by Ryan Giggs during their controversial 104th-minute collision that saw him bundled into the net and Manchester United claim a goal.

Cech maintains he was unsure whether the ball crossed the line, but is adamant he was fouled by Giggs. “I had both Giggs’s feet in my face so I couldn’t see the ball,” he said. “I cannot tell you whether it crossed the line, but for me it was a foul. I was not worried about being injured, I was just looking for the ball. I was holding it a long moment before he tackled me so I knew it was not a goal. Then I kept playing.

“I want to catch the ball, this is part of the goalkeeper’s game, so you need to dive at the feet of other people. If you hesitate you risk being injured again and since I came back I never had a thought about the incident and my injury. Once I decided to play I decided to play 100 per cent.”

Cech concedes it has been hard for him to come back from brain surgery. “It has been a difficult season for me and I am very happy I could play in the last part of it and could lift the trophy,” he said.