Cech faces fight for Barney
Albion new boy Marek Cech faces one final obstacle to completing his move to England – gaining "international clearance" for beloved dog Barney.
Albion new boy Marek Cech faces one final obstacle to completing his move to England – gaining "international clearance" for beloved dog Barney.
Slovakian international Cech and his fiancee have already picked out a house near Birmingham, after he sealed a £1.4m switch from FC Porto yesterday.
But chocolate labrador Barney faces a spell in quarantine before he is allowed to follow them from Portugal.
He said: "My fiancee will stay with me and our dog Barney will come too but he must stay in quarantine.
"He's a kid to us. He is two years old and we are trying to find out how long he will have to stay in quarantine."
The detention of his four-legged friend seems to be the only black cloud on the horizon for Cech, after he sealed the chance to try his luck in the Premier League.
He signed a three-year contract yesterday with an option for a fourth season in Albion's favour.
He is already itching to slot into Albion's free-flowing team.
He said: "I spoke with the manager about the style of football and I can see he likes the football that I like.
"He likes to pass and he doesn't want to play long balls. He likes to have technical football and the kind of play that supporters like.
"My targets are to play good football and show myself in a good light and be part of the team that stays in the Premier League this year."
Cech may be set to provide some fireworks for Baggies fans after he became famous at previous clubs for his thunderbolt left-footed free-kicks.
He remains a defender at heart, even though recent seasons have seen him play on the left and in the centre of midfield.
He said: "I like to help with attacking but also I never forget that I am a defender when I play in my position as a left defender.
"I also like to play football and not to run for the ball. I am a player who likes to have the ball and pass it. I am a technical footballer.
"They can also expect that I will defend for my side. I took free-kicks for the national team, for Sparta Prague and also for Porto.
"I was one of the goalscorers. I was one of the free-kick takers all the time so I am used to it."
Cech, who follows fellow Slovakian and former folk hero Igor Balis into The Hawthorns, is convinced the warm welcome he received on his visit to the Albion training ground helped him to know the transfer was right.
He said: "I didn't have much knowledge of West Bromwich but I knew the club and their situation in the Premier League.
"I didn't know the club exactly until I visited Birmigham and went to the training ground and the stadium. I was really surprised about the conditions and everything.
"I wasn't too surprised about the conditions, because I know the Premier League is the best league in the world and it is normal to have good conditions.
"But I was surprised by the people. They were very kind and very nice to me and they didn't press me to make a quick decision.
"They were very open to me and I would like to return this with my play on the field."
Now Cech is intent on ensuring his entire Hawthorns contract is spent in the top flight.
He said: "I came here to play in the Premier League, not to go down to the Championship. I will do everything to be part of the team and to stabilise West Brom in the top league."