With the Premier League campaign only five games old, the Blues
keeper feels that today's clash is already make-or-break for City's
big-time ambitions.
He said: "If we can win this game against City, we will be 10
points ahead of them and that is a big advantage at any stage of
the season.
"We would regard that as a huge help in putting one of our
rivals behind us for the rest of the campaign."
The Czech international has watched the City revolution with
keen interest since Sheikh Mansour launched his £220million
takeover two years ago. And he is still not sure they have `what it
takes to succeed, despite spending almost £350m on new players in
the last two years.
Cech added: "You can buy all the best players in the world, have
a great squad, great stadium, top manager and fantastic facilities.
"But money alone cannot buy success. You need spirit and atmosphere
in the dressing room and in the club generally to make the team
successful.
"It's down to the players at City to build that but, right now,
they have more pressure on them to deliver than ever before. "For
the past two years, they've spent lots of money but everyone was
prepared to say, 'City are in transition, it will take time'.
"Now they don't have any more excuses. They can't say, 'We have
a lot of new players and need time to settle'.
"City have everything set up to win the league. Now all they
need is some momentum on the pitch. "We are starting a period of
the season when the top teams have a lot of big games and you need
the whole squad to be ready to play.
"Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are all used to playing
in these situations but City have never had to cope with it before,
so only time will tell if they are serious title contenders this
season."
One City player who has impressed Cech with the way he has
handled the pressure in recent weeks is goalkeeper Joe Hart.
England ace Hart, 23, has broken into the first team for club
and country this term.
Cech said: "It's been difficult for him because he has had to
show everyone that he deserves to play ahead of such a highly-rated
keeper as Shay Given. "He started with a fantastic game at
Tottenham and then he really came into the spotlight when he
started playing for the national team.
"So now, all of a sudden, everyone is looking at him in a
different light. "He's no longer just one of the candidates for an
international call-up, he is the No 1 for England and for a club
with huge ambitions.
"He has much more pressure on him now but has done really well
so far."
Cech, 28, needs no reminding that City were the only team to
beat Chelsea home and away last season. And he insists there will
be no further slip-ups this afternoon as Carlo Ancelotti's team
look to maintain their 100 per cent start to the Premier League
season.
Cech recalled: "We made too many mistakes in both games. "In the
away game, I made a mistake for their second goal and we missed a
penalty.
"And, at Stamford Bridge, we allowed Bellamy and Tevez to have
so many counter-attacks and were caught three times, even though
they were not dominating."
Cech has seen his Chelsea team-mates burying their opponents in
a blizzard of attacking football this season. And he reckons he is
probably the only man at the club who is not encouraging his
colleagues to keep piling forward.
He added: "It's very difficult to keep the balance when we are
winning 3-0 or 4-0 and everyone is excited to see more and more
goals.
"Of course it's nice to watch everyone down at the other end of
the pitch and attracted to going forward. All the people in the
stadium are happy and smiling.
"But I am never happy when I concede. When Scotty Parker scored
a brilliant goal in the last minute for West Ham, you could see by
my reaction I was angry, even though we won 3-1.
"Luckily, at Chelsea, we have really disciplined and organised
players and we all know it's just as important to keep a clean
sheet.
"You can only build a team from defending well because, if you
score two goals, you know at the back of your mind that the game is
locked up. "But if the situation is the other way around and you go
on the pitch thinking that two goals isn't enough because you
always concede three, then even 2-0 isn't an easy score.
"You know that teams who are not good defensively have an
anxiety which you never see in Chelsea's game. "The main focus for
Chelsea is always on winning the game. And the start of this season
has been perfect in every way."
