Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech says his helmet saved defender Kurt Zouma from suffering an even more serious injury

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech and defender Kurt Zouma collide during their side’s Capital One Cup game against Derby County

Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Cech has revealed that Blues doctor Eva Carneiro had to ask more than three times for the stretcher bearers to attend the injured centre-back Kurt Zouma during their quarter-final match of the Capital One Cup against Derby County at the iPro Stadium on Tuesday night.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had to plead with the stretcher carriers to go in quickly and Cesc Fabregas and César Azpilicueta helped in carrying the stretcher to the pitch.

The injury took place near the end of the first 45 minutes of the game when the Czech republican punched away a Derby corner and in the process, collided with the 20-year-old Frenchmen.

“Eva was saying at least three times prior to that through the radio: ‘Bring the stretcher.’

“We could hear it. I think that was why everyone was upset with the call. We heard: ‘Bring the stretchers;’ ‘Bring the stretchers;’ and: ‘Bring the stretchers.’ But nobody was coming. I think that’s why the players got involved. Overall I think the situation was handled well, everybody did the right thing. The main objective was to make sure the player was safe and he is safe,” Cech said.

My helmet saved Zouma: Cech

Cech also believes that had his helmet not come in the way, Zouma might have suffered an even more severe blow to his head.

“I think we clashed with heads. I had a huge hit on my right side and obviously when I got the ball away I was looking where the ball goes and it was a punch so I was happy with that.

“But then I saw him lying on the floor. I was a bit concerned because we collided with a heavy clash.

“I think it was lucky he hit my helmet because the impact would have been much bigger. I think the helmet saved him, me as well. Because he hit most of the helmet and took away a little bit of the impact. He’s fine, the medical staff did really well to assess the situation. In this kind of clash you never know. He did not look so good to continue. Obviously it was the right choice. Now he is all clear hopefully. He is sitting there happy we won the game,” the 32-year-old said.

These incidents often take place: Cech

Cech, who joined the club in 2004, suffered a head injury in 2006 in a game against Reading at the Madejski Stadium, when he collided with Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt. He made a comeback in Chelsea’s game against Liverpool in January 2007 and played the game by wearing a rugby style head guard.

When asked if this incident reminded him of his own injury 8 years ago, Cech said that these incidents often occur in the game.

“In football you have this situation quite often. You have the cross and everybody wants to win the header so there is always a possibility you will collide with someone,” Cech said.

“This is a common thing in football. So not every clash makes me think of that one,” he added.

Here’s the video of that unfortunate incident