With Mendy Set For AFCON’ Could Kepa Form Help Chelsea Title Hopes
According to Ajokeonifaari, Kepa was openly chastised by analysts, journalists, and even his own manager, Frank Lampard, as a result of this, as well as his terrible set-piece performance.
Mendy, the Blues’ former record signing, is seeking for more playing time and will soon be able to do so as he prepares to represent Senegal.
Thomas Tuchel has been quietly working to resurrect Chelsea’s previous record signing, Kepa Arrizabalaga’s career.
Furthermore, social media footage emerged showing team-mates criticizing the Spain international following a set-piece mix-up during a game away at Liverpool, with Kepa having been an international talking point by that point.
The purchase of Edouard Mendy the following summer was practically an emergency move by the Blues, who wanted to offer insurance to a key position on the pitch.
After joining from Rennes, Mendy seized his opportunity and went on to win the Champions League with a record-breaking number of clean sheets for a goalie at an English team.
It has earned the 29-year-old distinction as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, with him finishing second behind Gianluigi Donnarumma in the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d’Or ceremony for best goalkeeper of 2021.
In the meanwhile, Kepa has been on the transfer market, but due to his high wages and prospective transfer fee, there have been no takers for him on a permanent or loan basis.
Since Thomas Tuchel’s arrival, Mendy’s good form has maintained, although the German’s squad management has been superior to that of his predecessor Lampard.
Tuchel has skillfully restored Kepa’s confidence behind the scenes by working with the entire goalkeeping department.
He has established through meticulous statistical analysis that Kepa is his best goalkeeper for penalty kicks, indicating that the man who still wears Chelsea’s No.1 shirt has talent.
That allowed the 27-year-old to play as a substitute in the UEFA Super Cup, when he came on as a hero in the final minute to win the European opener against Villarreal in August.
Today is a fantastic day for Kepa in his recovery from Chelsea’s disastrous season. Mendy will be at the AFCON soon, so this will be an opportunity for him to remind the world of his abilities throughout a series of games.
He then went on to win two more penalty shootouts, passing Petr Cech for the most saves in such situations in Chelsea history.
“I’m more at ease in every situation now. Everything appears to be going well, and I am optimistic. My self-assurance has returned to me “Chelsea’s penalty shootout success against Southampton in October set up Wednesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Brentford, according to Kepa.
In addition, as Tuchel seeks to rest players for Premier League and Champions League matches, Kepa has shown coolness and made a number of great saves in cup matches.
N’Golo Kante’s moment of brilliance in the 2-0 win over Brentford Pontus Jansson’s own goal was made possible by helping to discover the breakthrough.
Christian Pulisic won a penalty, which Jorginho converted, but it was Kepa who had to make several spectacular stops against Thomas Frank’s side when the game was still goalless, with the home side having their chances against a Chelsea side that had three young debutants.
And Kepa has now demonstrated over a number of games that he is deserving of a more prominent role in the team.
“Kepa has really impressed me.” When asked by GOAL, Tuchel replied. “It’s no longer surprising because he’s in the mindset as a person, character, and sportsman where he simply delivers for us by doing what he does best.
“This is what he demonstrates every day in training, and it is for this reason that he is rewarded. This is very certain to be the case.
“I’m overjoyed because he’s in such good form. The goalkeepers are a formidable unit. Kepa is a significant part of it, and he was a big part of it today, especially in the first half.”
Fortunately, Kepa’s timing may be ideal, since Mendy will be gone for a month with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He can focus on the competition he so desperately wants to win, confident in the knowledge that Chelsea is in good hands with Kepa taking his place.