Frank Lampard Was Asked to Firmly Handle Kepa Arrizabalaga

DBasia.news – Chelsea started the first week of the Premier League season 2020-2021 with a 3-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at Falmer Stadium, Tuesday (15/09). Three Chelsea goals were scored by Jorginho, Reece James, Kurt Zouma, which Leandro Trossard reduced.

The results are positive even though the new Chelsea players have not listed their names on the scoreboard. Especially in that match, only Timo Werner and Kai Havertz played from the new players who arrived: Hakim Ziyech, Malang Sarr, Ben Chilwell, and Thiago Silva.

Fans reacted positively to the spending rod of Chelsea players, but Chelsea still have an old problem with the position of goalkeeper. Arrizabalaga’s head was again in the spotlight because of the goal from Trossard.

Kepa was unable to save the net from being conceded when Trossard fired a long-range shot. According to Squawka, since coming to Chelsea two years ago, Kepa has conceded 19 goals from long-range shots outside the opponent’s penalty box, the number is more than any other goalkeeper.

The pressure on him is getting higher because of his status as the world’s most expensive goalkeeper. Chelsea activated its buyout clause from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 for 80 million euros. With the official price, it is natural that the performance is highlighted.

According to Giuseppe Muro in his writing for Standard Sports, Frank Lampard – Chelsea manager – must be firm with Kepa and also his future fate at the club.

“Kepa has made mistakes that cost Chelsea too many times and Lampard must be firm because he will get a new signing of Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from Rennes,” Muro wrote.

Lampard can see the assertiveness of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola which has resulted in league titles for Liverpool and Manchester City. Klopp kicked Simon Mignolet and replaced him with Alisson, while Guardiola recruited Ederson and eliminated Claudio Bravo.

Goalkeepers are fundamental for a team to win league titles. The statistics have shown Kepa is not good enough for Chelsea. As well as the 19 goals conceded outside the penalty area, last season Kepa conceded 47 goals in 33 league games.

His save ratio is 53.3 per cent and Mendy with Rennes conceding 19 goals in 24 games, his save ratio stands at 76.3 per cent. Edouard Mendy is a cheap solution for Chelsea rather than recruiting Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid).

After the match against Brighton, Lampard confirmed that he and Chelsea are happy to have Kepa. Lampard protected him but Kepa could no longer make mistakes if Chelsea were to compete for the title this season.

“I am happy with Kepa, I see there is confidence in him. He is here. He is our goalkeeper and I am happy with him,” said Lampard after the match against Brighton to Sky Sports.