Mourinho amazed by Cech cup heroics

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Mourinho and Abramovich embraced warmly to celebrate Chelsea's 2-1 extra-time FA Cup semi-final win over Blackburn, with Cech earning praise after producing several inspired saves to keep his side in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple.

Mourinho said: "Cech is more than special. He is the best goalkeeper in the world. He is the best goalkeeper in the world, everybody knows that."

Cech's dazzling display - including a stunning, gravity-defying save to claw out a back-header from John Terry which was looping in - comes just six months after he was carried off unconscious at the Madejski Stadium following an horrific collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt.

And Mourinho believes it is remarkable testament to Cech's fortitude that the Czech Republic international is back to his best so quickly.

He added: "To be the best in the world three months after that incredible surgery is amazing.

"When we saw him at Reading, and then in the hospital, without hair and with a big scar, and then when he was trying all his different helmets on, there were a lot of question marks.

"We didn't know whether he could come back and still be the same. To come back and be so good, so quickly is fantastic."