Cech: We proved everybody wrong

20 May 2012 11:17

Petr Cech hailed Chelsea's Champions League triumph as a "revolt" against their doubters following his penalty shoot-out heroics against Bayern Munich.

The Blues goalkeeper was in tears after helping end the club's agonising wait for European Cup glory. Chelsea becoming kings of Europe looked a laughable prospect three months ago after they lost their last-16 first leg against Napoli 3-1. But they repeatedly defied the doom-mongers before stunning Bayern 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

"It was a kind of revolt against everybody," Cech said.

"Because everything was going against us and we didn't have results. Andre Villas-Boas had to leave, he was sacked, and everybody was saying, 'You have no chance against Napoli, second leg'.

"Everybody wrote us off against Barcelona, everybody said that Bayern is playing at home, that we have missing players, and we have no chance. So, we kept proving everybody wrong."

Cech insisted the manner in which Chelsea achieved Champions League glory meant it had to be their destiny.

"It must have been because, all those years, we've been really doing well in the league," said the Czech Republic star, who joined the club eight years ago.

"And throughout all the years, we were so unlucky in the Champions League. This year, everything was going wrong in the league. We finished in sixth place, where we had never finished since I joined the club, and it was the moment where we won the Champions League.

"So many times this season, people wrote us off, and we said, 'Okay, everybody keeps writing us off, but we will do it'.

"Finally. It's been eight years. The chance came and in a moment when nobody expected it. We grabbed the chance. I said prior to the game that if we win the cup, I don't want a cake, and this is the best present I can get. It's a dream come true."

Source: PA