Kepa Confident Of Claiming Chelsea’s Gloves As First Choice Keeper At Mendy’s Expense

 

Izuchukwu Okosi 

Chelsea seocnd choice goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is hoping to usurp Edouard Mendy as the first choice goalminder when the Senegal international is away with his national team at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. 

The tournament has been pushed back by one year following the Covid 19 situation that severely affected sporting events. 

Spanish international Kepa made only his fourth appearance of the campaign in the penalty win over Southampton in the Carabao Cup and it was the third time he had helped the club to penalty shoot-out success this season. 

But the £71million signing told the Metro:“Well, it’s two months away. Of course we know it can happen and I will be ready but we have a lot of games until we start thinking about that.

“Let’s go step by step and we’ll see what happens. If he goes to the African Cup, all the best and I’ll be ready. But it’s still a long way to arrive at that point.

“I’ve always said I try to help the team in the best way but I do feel really good at penalties,” the keeper stressed. 

Kepa also performed heroically in the shoot-out success over Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup final back in August.

” I feel confident. It’s a bit of luck, a bit of work, a bit of everything but I feel really good.

” Of course I want to play more regularly. My last game was also a cup game, more or less a month ago, so it’s not easy to sometimes step in and feel the same as you would if you play every week.

” But I try to be ready, train hard, be involved in the team. Also, I feel the confidence of the manager – this is really important. I’ve felt his support from the beginning and I think when I step in I’m ready to help the team. I’m happy to do that.”

Mendy has been a great signing for the Blues and it was a surprise of some sorts that Kepa had remained at the club after he was linked with an exit.