COBHAM (England) - CHELSEA manager Guus Hiddink backed shaky goalkeeper Petr Cech to return to form in Saturday's FA Cup semifinal against Arsenal and dismissed speculation that the club planned to buy Tottenham's Heurelho Gomes.

Chelsea has conceded seven goals in its last two games and Cech's blunders have contributed to the team's struggle to beat Bolton 4-3 in the league and draw 4-4 with Liverpool in the Champions League.

He said the Czech international had not lost confidence but suffered like all goalkeepers from the fact that any mistake he might make could have dire consequences.

'He is a very intelligent person and a very intelligent player,' said the Dutchman, who took charge at Chelsea in February and will revert to his full-time job as Russia coach at the end of the season.

'He knows he has had one or two moments when it was not going well. But a goalie has the right to make an error now and then. He is enjoying and working very well with a big smile.'

Although Portuguese duo Deco and Jose Bosingwa are still sidelined with hamstring injuries, Hiddink said his squad has recovered from Tuesday's tiring 4-4 draw with Liverpool, which sent the Blues through 7-5 on aggregate to a Champions League semifinal against Barcelona.

'There are no physical or mental problems,' he said. 'But the Liverpool game cost a lot of energy, physically and mentally to all the people around the team too.'

Hiddink said his side, which has won the FA Cup four times to Arsenal's 10, had little time to dwell on past games at this point in the season when important matches were arriving thick and fast.

'We have after this huge game, a recovery, then we analyze what's happened in the game. Then, as soon as possible, we have to focus on the next game (against Everton on Wednesday),' he said.

'It's a huge challenge but it's not difficult because that's what's great in England - to play every four or five days big games,' the 62-year-old added. -- AP