Lampard confirms Kepa will start for Chelsea against Krasnodar
Speaking in the pre-match conference (h/t football.london) before the game this week, Frank Lampard confirmed that Kepa Arrizabalaga will start against Krasnodar. He also spoke about the relationship between the Spaniard and Edouard Mendy.
Chelsea signed 28-year-old French goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from Stade Rennais in September to make him the first-choice goalkeeper at the club.
Kepa had been Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper since he joined from Athletic Bilbao in the summer of 2018 after Chelsea needed a replacement for the outgoing Thibaut Courtois.
The Spaniard’s time at the club has been marred with high-profile errors and a lack of consistency, which could have been the reason why Frank Lampard went looking for a goalkeeper this season.
Mendy has become the outright first-choice goalkeeper at the club and has kept an astonishing 9 clean sheets in his first 13 games for the Blues. (h/t Transfermarkt)
Since the Frenchman’s move to the Premier League, Kepa Arrizabalaga has started only one match and is yet to play a minute in Europe.
Speaking about Kepa’s game time, Frank Lampard said the Spaniard will be starting in a game which has no consequence for Chelsea as the Blues ensured qualification as group winners when they beat Sevilla 4-0 last week.
“Yeah Kepa starts. Of course Kepa’s situation is slightly different, because the goalkeepers have to be patient when they’re not starting games. And generally obviously with Edou’s form he’s been a very regular pick for me. But of course for this game it’s a game for Kepa, who’s training brilliantly well, acting brilliantly well.”
Lampard was then asked about the relationship between Kepa and Mendy, the man who displaced the Spaniard to become Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper.
“He’s been very supportive, and I see that, I see it from afar sometimes, the goalkeepers, they work together with Hilario a lot. But what I do see, watching from afar, is someone that’s supporting him, quietly, as is his right, and someone who’s training really well.”
The Blues manager stated that the competition between Mendy and Kepa can be a productive one as both of them will push each other to be better.
Chelsea face Russian side Krasnodar in the Champions League tonight before taking the journey to Merseyside on Saturday for a late kick-off against Everton.
The goalkeeping situation at Stamford Bridge has been there for everyone to see. Kepa is the second choice for Lampard and it’s in his hands now to prove himself to the gaffer and win his place back.
It remains to be seen how the Spaniard handles himself at Stamford Bridge going forward.
