Not too long ago, it appeared the world’s costliest goalkeeper’s career at Stamford Bridge was nearly over, but he’s managed to turn things around.
Thomas Tuchel has praised “top, top professional” Kepa Arrizabalaga for “pushing and fighting for his chances” at Chelsea.
Kepa, who joined Chelsea on a then club-record £72million transfer from Athletic Bilbao in 2018, lost his place in the team last season following the arrival of Edouard Mendy.
His struggles to live up to that price tag and Mendy’s inspiring form helped that latter become the Blues’ first-choice for between the sticks under Frank Lampard, and the situation hasn’t changed under Thomas Tuchel.
One thing that has changed under Tuchel, however, is that the Spanish shot-stopper has managed to regain his confidence. Kepa kept a clean sheet in a rare start in Sunday’s derby win over Tottenham.
With Mendy stuck on the sidelines, the 26-year-old will once again start for the Blues in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Aston Villa.
“He seems happy to me,” Tuchel told in his pre-match press conference.
“Everybody wants to have more minutes, but we have contracts for 24 players including the goalkeepers. We simply cannot give everybody the same amount of minutes. ‘It is more dramatic for the goalkeepers because obviously you don’t change within games, so the situation seems worse, but I don’t feel Kepa like this.
“I feel an open guy, a humble guy, a super nice guy, a top, top professional, and a big part of this squad. I feel him happy. Maybe he could be happier in terms of having more minutes, but I don’t feel him concerned in the moment because he is pushing and he is fighting for his chances.
“You cannot force situations. His mindset is calm and he is positive. It was not necessary for him to prove to me he is a good goalkeeper. I see it every day in training. Maybe he is at the point where he does not try too hard to convince everybody he is worth the money the club paid. Who cares about the money? Okay, the money was paid, so what now?
“We have two strong goalkeepers and we need both of them. If you need any proof, look at the weekend, when he was the key factor to have a clean sheet.
“If the money is too high or too low, these measurements do not exist for us. I have a feeling the pressure is off his shoulders.’
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