Serious doubts emerge over Kepa as Lampard makes Mendy pledge

Edouard Mendy

Frank Lampard has placed a double doubt on the future of Kepa Arrizabalaga after admitting Edouard Mendy has already become Chelsea’s No 1 goalkeeper.

Mendy helped the Blues secure Lampard’s first goalless draw as Chelsea boss in Tuesday’s Champions League stalemate with Sevilla.

Senegal stopper Mendy shook off a thigh issue to start the Group E opener at Stamford Bridge. His side’s more robust shape left Lampard delighted as he reflected on their recent defensive failings.

Asked if Mendy is already Chelsea’s first-choice keeper, Lampard said: “At the moment yes; he’s shown his quality.

“The way he’s played, he’s played very well, that’s two clean sheets for him already.

“As it stands he is (the number one) but that’s always up for grabs. But the way he’s playing I’m very happy.

“I was pleased with the professional element to the win.

“Seville are a top team in European football, no doubt.

“The concentration and focus to get the result was big from the team.

“We made a lot of good decisions tonight, so it’s a really nice place for us to build from.

“I think it’s a positive result. The clean sheet was a big deal for us.”

 

Out-of-form Kepa Arrizabalaga dropped to the bench on Mendy’s return. That was after another afternoon to forget in Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Southampton.

Chelsea were solid against Sevilla if a little uninspiring in attack. But the Blues will be delighted with an improved defensive showing.

However, in a second blow to Kepa, he now could face a new challenge in the shape of the retired Petr Cech.

Chelsea registered former goalkeeper in their Premier League squad on Tuesday. The 38-year-old on hand if required in a coronavirus-related emergency.

Cech is still younger than 39-year-old Blues veteran keeper Willy Caballero, and is on hand if required. That’s despite retiring in the summer of 2019.

Chelsea’s technical director has been training with the senior squad for several weeks. Lampard insisted it was a “no-brainer” to add him to the league ranks.

“It’s definitely not done for the romance, Pete enjoys the training, that’s how he is,” said Lampard.

“With Pete it’s something I wouldn’t expect to happen but with how fit he is if we were in crisis we couldn’t have anyone better than Petr Cech around.”

 


Subscribe to TEAMtalk’s daily newsletter…


Lampard coy on Cech game-time

Lampard is taking a ‘never-say-never’ approach to suggestions that Cech could play for Chelsea this season.

“I don’t expect him to play, but nobody expected what’s happened in the last six or seven months. That would explain why he’s in there.

“He’s invaluable for his experience, passing that onto the goalkeepers.

“We had a space this year, and Covid makes this a year like no other.

“He’s very fit, he’s still relatively young, and he finished playing when he possibly could have carried on. When he took on the role that he does very well here.

“He trains very regularly and very well. I’m not sure if we’ll see him this season, it depends on how things go of course.

“But it’s a total no-brainer to have him in the squad for the reasons of the pandemic and everything that’s happened.

“He trains every day, and that can only help the goalkeepers we have, to have one of the best in the recent modern era training with them.”