Mendy displaced Kepa as the first choice goalkeeper at Chelsea
According to the Metro, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has challenged Kepa Arrizabalaga to fight for his spot in the team.
The Blues star has come under the scanner after a number of high-profile mistakes last season.
This saw him get benched in favour of Willy Caballero towards the end of the last campaign. While Kepa has returned to the starting line-up this season, he continues to frustrate in goal.
The Spaniard was at fault for Liverpool’s second goal on Sunday. The mistake effectively ended any hope 10-man Chelsea had of salvaging a point.
With the Blues closing in on Rennes shot-stopper Edouard Mendy, Kepa’s time as the number one could be numbered.
The 28-year-old Senegalese will arrive at Stamford Bridge to compete with Kepa for the starting spot. Competition is an essential part of evolution and Lampard hopes that it will stir the fire in Kepa to improve.
“We have brought Mendy in to bring that competition. We know it’s an area Kepa himself wants to improve in his own performance. So it’s in everybody’s hands in the squad to push, to train, to have the right attitude, to try to compete to get in the team.”
While football is a team sport, it can be argued that the goalkeeper is the one player whose performance is marked out at a personal level.
One can go from a hero to a zero in an instant or vice versa. Lampard is aware of the situation. The onus now is on Kepa and how he reacts to the threat presented by Mendy.
According to the report, Mendy could make his Chelsea debut as early as this weekend against West Bromwich Albion.
Chelsea technical director and former goalkeeper Petr Cech played a key role in the club’s pursuit of Mendy.
The same was confirmed by Lampard, who termed the Czech hero’s input as influential.
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