Cech reopens technology debate, with Scot the next up for review

Senior Sports Writer

Monday 7 May 2012

roberto DI MATTEO lifted the FA Cup and seemed to strengthen his grip on the Chelsea manager's job.

Andy Carroll scored for Liverpool and was adamant he had headed in another, but Roberto Di Matteo was the one celebrating at Wembley

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Ronnie Cully

The affable Italian is reluctant to comment on his position, but since taking over on an interim basis the Stamford Bridge side have enjoyed some notable success.

Kenny Dalglish is not quite so comfortable. His position at Liverpool already seemed before Saturday's FA Cup final defeat, and it feel even less secure now. The £100m investment in overhauling an ailing Anfield side has yielded only the Carling Cup, and the arguments over the wisdom of spending £35m of that cash on Andy Carroll took another twist when Dalglish elected to leave him out of his starting XI at Wembley, only to see the striker turn the final on its head when he was eventually thrown into the action.

Such was his impact that Dalglish is being asked serious questions about why he did not have the confidence to start with Carroll, or at least to put him on earlier after a first half in which Liverpool struggled to compete. They were 2-0 down to goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba when the much-maligned striker was thrown on.Carroll responded by scoring the goal which, along with his bustling presence and aerial prowess, created panic in the Chelsea defender. The striker is convinced he scored what would have been a deserved equaliser eight minutes from time, only for Petr Cech to somehow claw the ball on to the underside of the crossbar, to be hoofed clear by Branislav Ivanovic.Given the good fortune enjoyed by Chelsea in the semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur – when Juan Mata was credited with a goal when the ball clearly did not cross the line – it was perhaps no surprise that similar luck favoured the London side on Saturday, assistant referee Andrew Garrett confirming to referee Phil Dowd the ball had not crossed over the line.On such moments are cups won, and careers lost. Whether or not that turns out to be a critical point in Dalglish's tenure at Anfield, only time – and the club's American owners – can tell.Certainly, the club's league form and position place the Liverpool manager in a vulnerable position. However, if anyone expected the acerbic Scot to build his defence of this defeat on that contentious issue, they were mistaken. Dalglish preferred to defer on the matter, even opining that the match officials should be given credit if television images determine they made the correct call.Cech had an instant answer to the debate, and turned his attention to the need for goal-line technology which has become such a thorny issue of late. The Chelsea goalkeeper insisted it is not only time to bring in the technology, but that it is actually a decade overdue."I've been saying that for 10 years," said Cech. "Every time in the big competitions you see it. Even as a teenager, watching the great competitions, you see a goal which is not a goal being allowed, and a goal which is a goal not being allowed, and you think, 'well, I'm sitting in front of my telly, the game is live, in 10 seconds I knew it was a goal or it was not a goal'. Why can't the officials know the same thing?"Football is the only sport in the world at the highest level which does not have that help. There are people who are thinking about it, but haven't allowed it, and I don't understand for what reason."Cech does not buy into the argument that, because the technology cannot be introduced universally, it would be unfair to allow some countries to implement it. "I understand the point where people are saying not everybody or every league would have the chance to have the same possibilities, to have the video linesmen," said Cech."But, at the same time, you can't compare the Premier League even with the Czech league. They are two completely different competitions. If the Czech federation doesn't want to do that, the other federations should be allowed to do it. I'm kind of surprised the Premier League has not done it on its own, if they can."Hopefully, the Champions League final, which offers Chelsea the opportunity to seal a remarkable transformation since Andre Villas-Boas made way for Di Matteo, is decided on clear-cut goals. Cech is relishing the prospect of finally getting his hands on the biggest prize club football has to offer."It is a great moment because, when you win a cup and you go to the Champions League final, it gives you a lot of confidence," he said.Cech, however, was not quite so effusive on the accepted thoery that winning in Munich would make Di Matteo a must to become the permanent manager. "I don't know because I'm not the owner, I'm not one of the people on the board of the club, so this is not a question for me," said the Czech, while all around his Chelsea team-mates were enthusiastically endorsing the Italian's claims. "But it has not done him any harm winning the cup."Chelsea's interim manager continues to play it cool, and insisted he has not spoken to owner Roman Abramovich about where he now stands in the running for the position."It's irrelevant," said the former Chelsea midfielder. "The boss will make the decision and we'll respect it. I'm very fortunate person, so it's not an issue for me."His team are back in action tomorrow night, when they are reunited with Liverpool in a league match which carries more significance for Dalglish than for Di Matteo. Ninth in the league table is no place for a club with Liverpool's history, ambitions or demands, and the American buck stops with Dalglish, who would have put more credit in the bank if he could have brought a cup double to the club for only the second time.He continues to show faith in the players who carry his fate in their performances, though. "The same group of players will get better and will be better for the experience they've had today, and the experience they've had this season," he said.

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Cech reopens technology debate, with Scot the next up for review

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