West Brom tracking City keeper GivenChelsea boss delighted with keeper's consistency
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has hailed the consistency of goalkeeper Petr Cech as the Blues push for a strong end to the campaign.
Ancelotti's side won a first-ever domestic double last term and, despite a mid-season loss of form, are still in with a shout for the title as well as UEFA Champions League silverware this term.
But things could have been worse this season had it not been for the form of Cech, who has been at Stamford Bridge for almost seven years.
Ancelotti, who coached Gianluigi Buffon and Edwin van der Sar at Juventus and Dida at AC Milan puts Cech among the best he has ever worked with, particularly hailing his consistency.
He told the Daily Star Sunday: "I am a very lucky coach because in my career I have always had fantastic keepers.
"I started with Buffon and then continued at Milan with Dida. And for two years at Juventus I also trained Van der Sar.
"Now I have Petr Cech - and that means in my career I have had four of the most fantastic keepers possible.
Best quality
"Petr is one of the best keepers in the world and his best quality, when compared with the other keepers, is his consistency.
"He is very professional, with a very strong personality but, at the same time, he is a humble, unselfish man."
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has echoed his boss in hailing the consistency of Cech, who suffered a life-threatening skull fracture at Reading in October 2006.
"During his time at Chelsea, Petr has been consistently the No.1 keeper in the world," said Lampard.
"He had that horrific injury halfway through his spell here but has come back from that stronger than ever, particularly when you look at his form this season.
"He has been brilliant and we are so lucky to have such a top keeper who is so consistent.
"A lot of top clubs have chopped and changed keepers. But Petr has been one constant in our team through all the success."