Star Chelsea goalie has procedure for fractured skull

LONDON (AP) -- Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech had surgery for a depressed skull fracture after being hit in the face by Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt's knee.

Chelsea said Sunday it was too early to assess the Czech's condition.

"Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Petr Cech was transferred to the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford last night to the specialist neuro-surgical unit," the team said Sunday in a statement. "He underwent surgery for a depressed fracture of the skull.

"The operation was successful but it is too early to give an accurate assessment of his condition."

Cech was hurt in the opening minute of Saturday's English Premier League match against Reading, which Chelsea won 1-0.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said after the match that Cech was lucky to survive and called on the Football Association to take disciplinary action against Hunt.

"You see players avoiding the keeper by jumping or going with the foot for the ball, but when a player goes with the knee direct to the face he doesn't want to avoid him," Mourinho said. "After that he turned, came back and was laughing right in front of us. He was motivating his people but gave not one single sign that he was worried about the situation."

Reading manager Steve Coppell defended his player.

"Jose will have his views but I don't believe there was any intent in the challenge," Coppell said. "There was a heavy collision, but there is no way Hunty went in to damage the keeper. Referee Mike Riley was 10 yards away and he didn't book him. That tells me a lot."

Cech's replacement, Carlo Cudicini, also was taken to the hospital after he was injured in a collision with Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko while jumping to catch the ball in the 89th minute. He was released Saturday night.

Chelsea defender John Terry finished the match as the goalkeeper.

"Naturally, everybody at Chelsea wishes Petr, and Carlo Cudicini -- who was discharged last night after being knocked unconscious -- a speedy recovery from their injuries," Chelsea said.

Third-choice goalkeeper Hilario, who moved from Nacional in June and is yet to make his competitive debut for Chelsea, is almost certain to play Wednesday against FC Barcelona in the Champions League.

Mourinho said he was more concerned about the health of his goalkeepers than playing Barcelona.

"I don't care about football. I care about my two friends," Mourinho said. "Barcelona is Barcelona, football is football, and I don't care about it. I care, but for me other things are more important.

"I want Petr and Carlo out of the hospital. Barcelona is a football game, an important one, but I care more about my players.




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