Chelsea keepers survive death
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Chelsea goalkeepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini escaped with their lives after their heavy clashes in Saturday's win at Reading.
Cech could be out for the season with a depressed fracture of the skull following a challenge by Reading's Stephen Hunt on Saturday.
And Cech's back-up Cudicini was warned he could risk his life if he rushes his return after being laid out by Ibrahima Sonko and swallowing his tongue during the Blues' 1-0 win.
Czech international Cech underwent emergency surgery yesterday and is unlikely to play again this season after being caught on the side of the head by Hunt's knee with just 15 seconds played at the Madejski Stadium.
Although he was conscious immediately after the challenge, his condition deteriorated in the visitors' dressing room as further tests were carried out.
As worried medics waited for an ambulance, Cech collapsed and lost consciousness.
He was joined at the Royal Berkshire Hospital by Cudicini, the victim of a thunderous mid-air collision with powerhouse defender Sonko.
The Italian stopper had already swallowed his tongue and was turning purple by the time chief medical officer Bryan English reached him.
Luckily, English was able to release Cudicini's tongue by manipulation of the player's jaw before he was rushed to hospital in a neck brace.
Referee Mike Riley did not even award a free-kick for Sonko's challenge and Cudicini was lying unconscious in the goalmouth when Didier Drogba cleared off the line.
Both keepers underwent brain scans and spinal x-rays before Cudicini was discharged late on Saturday night.
Cech was transferred to the specialist neurosurgical unit at Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford for yesterday's operation.
Blues boss Jose Mourinho revealed: "I am not worried about the Barcelona match right now. I am worried only about the health of our two friends Petr and Carlo. They both lost consciousness, completely knocked out.
"Petr recovered a little bit in the dressing room but a few seconds later he passed out again and had to go to hospital. Carlo was out cold.
"It's difficult to lose two keepers in the same match. I could accept if it was due to a red card and a muscle injury or something like that. But not because of violent conduct.
"Carlo was injured by the violent way he hit the ground. Sonko pushed him, not in a dirty way, but he deserved a second yellow card.
"But the challenge on Cech was unbelievable. To go in on a sliding goalkeeper with the knee is an unbelievable action.
"There is no chance that was an accident. You'll have to ask Hunt if he meant to put Cech in hospital but he knew what he was doing, that's for sure."
Cech could be out for the season with a depressed fracture of the skull following a challenge by Reading's Stephen Hunt on Saturday.
And Cech's back-up Cudicini was warned he could risk his life if he rushes his return after being laid out by Ibrahima Sonko and swallowing his tongue during the Blues' 1-0 win.
Czech international Cech underwent emergency surgery yesterday and is unlikely to play again this season after being caught on the side of the head by Hunt's knee with just 15 seconds played at the Madejski Stadium.
Although he was conscious immediately after the challenge, his condition deteriorated in the visitors' dressing room as further tests were carried out.
As worried medics waited for an ambulance, Cech collapsed and lost consciousness.
He was joined at the Royal Berkshire Hospital by Cudicini, the victim of a thunderous mid-air collision with powerhouse defender Sonko.
The Italian stopper had already swallowed his tongue and was turning purple by the time chief medical officer Bryan English reached him.
Luckily, English was able to release Cudicini's tongue by manipulation of the player's jaw before he was rushed to hospital in a neck brace.
Referee Mike Riley did not even award a free-kick for Sonko's challenge and Cudicini was lying unconscious in the goalmouth when Didier Drogba cleared off the line.
Both keepers underwent brain scans and spinal x-rays before Cudicini was discharged late on Saturday night.
Cech was transferred to the specialist neurosurgical unit at Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford for yesterday's operation.
Blues boss Jose Mourinho revealed: "I am not worried about the Barcelona match right now. I am worried only about the health of our two friends Petr and Carlo. They both lost consciousness, completely knocked out.
"Petr recovered a little bit in the dressing room but a few seconds later he passed out again and had to go to hospital. Carlo was out cold.
"It's difficult to lose two keepers in the same match. I could accept if it was due to a red card and a muscle injury or something like that. But not because of violent conduct.
"Carlo was injured by the violent way he hit the ground. Sonko pushed him, not in a dirty way, but he deserved a second yellow card.
"But the challenge on Cech was unbelievable. To go in on a sliding goalkeeper with the knee is an unbelievable action.
"There is no chance that was an accident. You'll have to ask Hunt if he meant to put Cech in hospital but he knew what he was doing, that's for sure."
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