Speaking ahead to Saturday’s FA Cup final, Thomas Tuchel has confirmed two starters for his Chelsea line-up.
Kepa Arrizabalaga and N’Golo Kante will both start for Chelsea in the FA Cup final against Leicester City on Saturday.
Thomas Tuchel has confirmed the pair’s involvement for the trip to Wembley as he eyes his first trophy as Blues manager.
Despite Edouard Mendy remaining the club’s first-choice keeper, Kepa was always expected to start. The Spaniard has played in goal in each of Chelsea’s five FA Cup games and conceded just one goal. Therefore, Tuchel sees no reason for a change in shot-stopper.
🗣"He brought us to the final, so he deserves to play the final."
Thomas Tuchel confirms Kepa Arrizabalaga will play in goal for Chelsea against Leicester in the FA Cup final pic.twitter.com/p2AEGPwkkA
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 14, 2021
“That’s the way it is,” said the Blues manager in a press conference on Friday afternoon.
“If you have a goalkeeper for this competition like we have with Kepa, you don’t change in the final.
“He is a part of the group. He brought us to the final, so he deserves to play the final.”
Kante, meanwhile, returns to the lineup after missing Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal midweek due to an Achilles problem.
“We took the decision together to leave him out against Arsenal and give him treatment,” Tuchel said on Kante.
“It was pain management, not a huge injury. It was nothing to be afraid of getting bigger.
“He trained yesterday and today full, no complaints. He will start tomorrow and hopefully finish the game for us.”
Kovacic is fit to be in the squad and Kante will start.
Best news you'll hear all day 👏🔵 pic.twitter.com/H0HF9aGfnX
— CFC-Blues (@CFCBlues_com) May 14, 2021
Mateo Kovacic, who has missed the last six games due to a hamstring, is also back in the squad.
The Croatian will hope to start as Chelsea attempt to go one better in the FA Cup on Saturday after losing last season’s final to Arsenal.
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