Lampard picking a 38-year-old ahead of £71.6m Kepa is quite some statement
https://theathletic.com/1613998/2020/02/18/chelsea-kepa-dropped-caballero-lampard/
There are many people connected to Chelsea who have cause to be worried about the future at the moment, but few have more reason to be concerned than Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Kepa had to watch from the sidelines as Manchester United made another significant step toward Champions League qualification at Chelsea’s expense on Monday night. To make matters worse, compatriot David de Gea surely edged closer to beating him in their personal duel to be Spain’s No 1 at Euro 2020.
The controversy surrounding three VAR decisions took centre stage in the immediate aftermath of United’s 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge. The significance of the away side closing to within three points of Chelsea was understandably a focal point as well.
Yet there is no doubt that this was a very humbling occasion for the world’s most expensive goalkeeper – who signed a seven-year contract when his world-record transfer was agreed back in 2018.
For all the talk from coach Frank Lampard beforehand that Kepa had responded well to being left out against Leicester City before the winter break, it still wasn’t enough for him to regain a starting berth.
Indeed, Lampard didn’t take long to make up his mind over who would stand between the posts last night, having decided to keep faith with Willy Caballero before the weekend.
This has to be regarded as a greater humiliation even than the one experienced at Leicester. Chelsea versus Manchester United may not be the occasion it once was but it still attracts a vast global audience. Yet the only contribution Kepa made to it was in the warm-up.
Lampard’s explanation for Kepa’s omission ahead of the fixture was quite damning. “It is not an easy decision, of course,” he explained to Sky Sports. “But like every player in the squad, I have to go on form; from what I see on the training ground, what I see off the pitch and what I see mainly in performance as well. I have just gone with that.
“I went with that with Willy before. It doesn’t mean anything long-term, it means we have to be competitive here. People have to show. I think Willy has been a fantastic professional, trains really well.
“He came in against Leicester and made a couple of really good saves in the game. I know the spotlight is on keepers more than any position. It is just a decision and we move on.”
But it is hard to see how Kepa moves on from here. Caballero couldn’t be blamed for the two goals he conceded against Manchester United so, given Lampard’s current assessment of the situation, has to be in line to face Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday as well.
Caballero is in his third season at Chelsea and has become a very popular figure within the squad. His ability to speak Spanish and English means he can converse well with all their players. At 38, though, he isn’t the long-term option — that is supposedly the role of Kepa, who is 13 years younger.
Kepa’s level of English has improved since joining from Athletic Bilbao for £71.6 million in August 2018 and The Athletic revealed earlier in the season that he has become more of a leader in the dressing room.
Sources have confirmed that, as Lampard stated, Kepa has responded professionally to being dropped but hasn’t been quite as upbeat around the camp.
Unsurprisingly, the Spain international was very subdued when he took to the pitch on Monday night to go through some pre-match drills with Caballero, third-choice Jamie Cumming and goalkeeping coach Hilario.
Caballero had given an early indication he would be involved by walking out to inspect the playing surface with Pedro and Marcos Alonso 90 minutes before kick-off. He appeared calm and relaxed, cracking the odd joke with his team-mates.
By the time Kepa took to the field for the first time to join in the goalkeeping exercises 45 minutes later, the news had emerged that Caballero was in the starting line-up.
Body language can always be read a number of different ways and Kepa participated as any senior player would as Hilario tested all three keepers in turn on passing, collecting crosses and stopping shots. Yet there seemed little joy in his work and there didn’t appear to be many words exchanged with anyone.
While Caballero ran off to get ready with intent, sharing a passionate embrace with Hilario before going down the tunnel, Kepa headed to the dressing room afterwards almost unnoticed.
Normally when a high-profile figure is left out, the crowd show their feelings on the matter. So it must have stung Kepa to hear Caballero’s name cheered loudly when it was read out just before the whistle. There was also warm applause from the Matthew Harding End, which could be seen as Chelsea fans endorsing Lampard’s selection.
Caballero’s standing among the players was also clear to see as he exchanged emotive words of encouragement, high fives and hugs with all of them.
Lampard’s stance has to be regarded as a brave one under the circumstances. It is all very well leaving out such a costly recruit when results are good, but Chelsea have now picked up just 15 points from their last 14 matches.
But this is not the first time Lampard has made a bold call that could be frowned upon in the boardroom. Christian Pulisic, who joined from Borussia Dortmund last summer for £57.4 million, was omitted on a regular basis in the first few months of the campaign.
The manager made it clear in his pre-match press conference he would not take Kepa’s transfer fee into account when choosing the side. But picking a pushing-40 free-transfer signing ahead of him is still some statement.
Kepa has become a bit of a scapegoat among the fans for Chelsea’s inability to keep a clean sheet this season but Caballero’s inclusion has not improved matters as the team have conceded four goals in two fixtures.
Caballero was perhaps partly to blame for one of Leicester’s goals in the 2-2 draw in their previous game, but Chelsea’s problems at the back run a lot deeper than just one position.
They have conceded 36 times in 26 matches — only the 10th best record in the division. They have only five clean sheets (which ranks them 16th in the Premier League), have let in seven goals from corners (16th) and five from fast breaks (19th).
Such a dismal return is not down to the goalkeeper alone. Caballero certainly could not be blamed for failing to stop headers by Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire — the United duo climbed above Chelsea defenders Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger respectively far too easily.
Kepa’s form and subsequent omission against Leicester has already sparked a lot of debate back in his homeland. He looked on course to be first choice at the European Championship this summer having started four of Spain’s qualifiers to De Gea’s two between September and November.
De Gea has hardly been looking assured for several months himself, although he had only one shot on target to face from Chelsea (not including the two goals disallowed by VAR). But obviously being in a team is better than not being involved at all, so Kepa has to be feeling anxious ahead of Spain’s friendlies against Germany and Holland in March.
With increasing suggestions that Chelsea are looking at Burnley’s Nick Pope and Andre Onana of Ajax to replace him in the summer, Kepa needs to convince Lampard of his quality as soon as possible.
