Kepa Arrizabalaga

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Chelsea have not given up on Kepa Arrizabalaga — but he is running out of chances

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/02/10/Chelsea-have-not-given-kepa-arrizabalaga-running-chances/

It was no coincidence that Kepa Arrizabalaga was officially unveiled as a Chelsea player just an hour after Thibaut Courtois had been presented by Real Madrid back in August, 2018.

Losing Courtois had been a blow and, with Kepa’s proud family in attendance for his £71.6million club record signing, Chelsea were keen to show off the world’s most expensive goalkeeper in a packed Stamford Bridge press room. But, two-and-a-half years later, it may be inside an empty Oakwell Stadium on Thursday night that the Spaniard attempts to pick up the pieces of his career against Barnsley in the FA Cup.

Kepa’s situation at Chelsea had become irretrievable before Frank Lampard was sacked and Thomas Tuchel was appointed as his successor. It might still be the case that the 26-year-old is fighting a losing battle to convince the club’s latest head coach that he can make a comeback of Lazarus proportions.

But whether Tuchel’s arrival offers a new start for Kepa or proves to be the beginning of the end of his time at Chelsea, he will hope that his slate has at least been wiped clean in preparation for what follows.

There remains a sense that Chelsea would like Kepa to be given a second chance before having to make a final decision on his future. Director Marina Granovskaia took time out from her summer break last year to share a personal heart-to-heart with the player in an effort to offer support and try to plot a path forward.

Lampard had initially recommended replacing him with Jan Oblak, but Chelsea did not want to break the record for the most expensive goalkeeper for a second time and did not want to shut the door on Kepa at that stage, so Edouard Mendy was signed for £20m on the recommendation of Petr Cech instead.

Mendy’s clean sheet percentage is already far higher than Kepa’s and the Senegal international has only conceded once in Tuchel’s first four games in charge, meaning he will remain the first-choice goalkeeper even if Kepa continues to play in the FA Cup and performs well.

The finances involved in signing Kepa on a seven-year contract are, of course, important to Granovskaia and Chelsea, but so is the welfare of one of their employees who is still viewed as an asset by those who work with him and come into contact with him on a daily basis.

Those close to Kepa insist he remains happy in his work, albeit not with his form or being out of the team, and he has never been viewed as a negative personality at the training ground, under Maurizio Sarri, Lampard or now Tuchel.

His head may drop in the aftermath of a mistake, but Kepa has not sulked and he continues to train well and offer a cheery fist-bump to non-playing members of Chelsea’s first-team bubble.

Nobody at Chelsea or within Kepa’s circle has attempted to excuse his disappointing performances or hide from the fact that he has not lived up to expectations. But there is context that is worth adding to the criticisms that he has had to become used to dealing with.

Not least the fact that Kepa, who comes from a close-knit and supportive family, has lived through most of the coronavirus pandemic in solitude in his flat since splitting up with his long-term girlfriend roughly a year ago.

Not only would he rate this as the most difficult time of his professional career, it has also been an incredibly challenging period of Kepa’s personal life during which he has not been able to see family and friends.

Alone in a foreign country, without anybody to personally confide in over his troubles, Kepa has been left with his thoughts for long periods, which perhaps helps to explain why he decided he no longer needed to see the opinions of strangers on social media.

It would appear that it was following a message posted on Twitter in which he paid his respects to Diego Maradona after the Argentine legend’s death that Kepa decided enough was enough.

The replies to the tweet in which Kepa had written the message ‘RIP Diego’ were littered with responses reminding him of his poor form and making crass remarks over the state of his Chelsea career.

When Kepa next tweeted, just over two weeks later on Christmas Eve, only people he follows or who he had mentioned in his message were able to reply. And so it has remained.

While not thought to be obsessive about social media, Kepa is responsible for his own Twitter account and the decision to disable the comments of strangers is believed to have been his own.

Those close to him do not get the sense he had been particularly upset or hurt by the unkind replies, but had simply decided that he did not need to expose himself to any added negativity during a time of unrelenting scrutiny.

The decision may also have been taken with his family and friends in mind, who would no doubt have been upset by the replies to Kepa’s messages that they would have scrolled through.

If and when Kepa reopens his Twitter replies to the public could depend on whether or not he can win back his Chelsea place or eventually move elsewhere to try to revive his career. 

A first appearance under Tuchel against Barnsley would not offer the chance of redemption, but it may be an opportunity for Kepa to start putting the past behind him.

[NikkiCFC 8,060]

Outrage over Kepa starting was funny to me. We have rotation for every position, why not GK? Made some good saves against Luton and Burnsley and today again. If you read this pages you will see people had zero issues with him in first season under Sarri. 

He can be that guy again under Tuchel. At least it is nice to have 2 solid GKs. 

Mendy had clean sheets lately but he didn't face anything yet under Tuchel unlike Kepa who did solid and deserves to play. 

Tuchel will help him to get his confidence back. This is great management. 

Lampard for instance after Kai scored het trick was completely left out week later against Spurs and we played that game 4231 which was best for him. 

Also after he scored and had assist against 4th division team he didn't start against Luton like week later. 

So Lamps didn't help him which is Tuchel doing now with Kepa. 

 

Edited February 15, 2021 by NikkiCFC

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[Vesper 29,025]

5 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Outrage over Kepa starting was funny to me. We have rotation for every position, why not GK? Made some good saves against Luton and Burnsley and today again. If you read this pages you will see people had zero issues with him in first season under Sarri. 

He can be that guy again under Tuchel. At least it is nice to have 2 solid GKs. 

Mendy had clean sheets lately but he didn't face anything yet under Tuchel unlike Kepa who did solid and deserves to play. 

Tuchel will help him to get his confidence back. This is great management. 

Lampard for instance after Kai scored het trick was completely left out week later against Spurs and we played that game 4231 which was best for him. 

Also after he scored and had assist against 4th division team he didn't start against Luton like week later. 

So Lamps didn't help him which is Tuchel doing now with Kepa. 

 

you would never have posted this if he had went 'normal' and let in 2 howlers

sure, it is good to get him some playing time, BUT the EPL is no joke

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4 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Outrage over Kepa starting was funny to me. We have rotation for every position, why not GK? Made some good saves against Luton and Burnsley and today again. If you read this pages you will see people had zero issues with him in first season under Sarri. 

He can be that guy again under Tuchel. At least it is nice to have 2 solid GKs. 

Mendy had clean sheets lately but he didn't face anything yet under Tuchel unlike Kepa who did solid and deserves to play. 

Tuchel will help him to get his confidence back. This is great management. 

Lampard for instance after Kai scored het trick was completely left out week later against Spurs and we played that game 4231 which was best for him. 

Also after he scored and had assist against 4th division team he didn't start against Luton like week later. 

So Lamps didn't help him which is Tuchel doing now with Kepa. 

Pretty sure Kepa's save stats under Sarri weren't great reading either.

And if we want to be a serious team, one that is properly challenging for major trophies, we shouldn't be changing the goalkeeper week in week out. You choose one and stick with him. Only change if the #1 goes off the rail. 

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Just now, Vesper said:

you would never have posted this if he had went 'normal' and let in 2 howlers

sure, it is good to get him some playing time, BUT the EPL is no joke

Exactly. Kepa was barely tested because Newcastle were partly awful going forward. 

Imagine the scenes if Kepa starts against Atletico and he makes a blunder (we know he's more than capable of making one) and costs us the match!

[Vesper 29,025]

Just now, Jason said:

Exactly. Kepa was barely tested because Newcastle were partly awful going forward. 

Imagine the scenes if Kepa starts against Atletico and he makes a blunder (we know he's more than capable of making one) and costs us the match!

I don't have full confidence in Mendy ffs, let alone Kepa!!

I cannot take the nervousness if he were to start every game (which thank fuck he will not)

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2 minutes ago, Vesper said:

I don't have full confidence in Mendy ffs, let alone Kepa!!

I cannot take the nervousness if he were to start every game (which thank fuck he will not)

Mendy over Kepa any day. At least we know Mendy is not gonna drop random blunders or he will save shots that he should be saving. 

[Tomo 21,733]

6 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Outrage over Kepa starting was funny to me. We have rotation for every position, why not GK? Made some good saves against Luton and Burnsley and today again. If you read this pages you will see people had zero issues with him in first season under Sarri. 

Did you have this same energy when Turnbull had an okay game?

There was 'outrage' because he's proven to be catastrophic time and time again, and you mention his saves in those games but he also made criminal errors in both that we won't continue to get away with. The only other game this season before tonight he didn't make a big error was Krasnador and even then Mendy would have likely saved if not caught the shot that went in.

Regarding his first season, his flaws were there to see even then we just gave him the benefit of the doubt/tried to convince ourselves it was a first season in England thing.

[Tomo 21,733]

1 minute ago, Jason said:

Mendy over Kepa any day. At least we know Mendy is not gonna drop random blunders or he will save shots that he should be saving. 

Is it just me who sees Mendy make some pretty simple saves and thinks Kepa would let that in and make it look unsaveable? Billy Sharp's overhead kick for example.

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3 minutes ago, Tomo said:

Is it just me who sees Mendy make some pretty simple saves and thinks Kepa would let that in and make it look unsaveable? Billy Sharp's overhead kick for example.

Yes? Am sure there are many Chelsea fans out there who worry Kepa will concede a goal when the opposition take a shot, regardless of whether it's good or bad. We don't need that uncertainty in defence. And worth remembering that he conceded a stupid goal recently against Luton. 

Going by Tuchel's post-match comments, it seems like he only played Kepa tonight because it was Newcastle, one of the most toothless sides in the league. Had that say been one of the top 10 sides, Mendy would have played. Tuchel said he wants to give a fresh start to everyone but at the same time, I would also like to think he's not stupid or blind on why players like Kepa, Alonso weren't playing much at all under Lampard. 

[Magic Lamps 11,668]

Good game but no save I would not 100% expect any pl keeper to make. 
he made that palming away of the bouncing header look like a worldie due to his short arms but in fact the speed of the ball was almost like slow motion. 

[Stats 7,059]

23 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Outrage over Kepa starting was funny to me. We have rotation for every position, why not GK? Made some good saves against Luton and Burnsley and today again. If you read this pages you will see people had zero issues with him in first season under Sarri. 

He can be that guy again under Tuchel. At least it is nice to have 2 solid GKs. 

Mendy had clean sheets lately but he didn't face anything yet under Tuchel unlike Kepa who did solid and deserves to play. 

Tuchel will help him to get his confidence back. This is great management. 

Lampard for instance after Kai scored het trick was completely left out week later against Spurs and we played that game 4231 which was best for him. 

Also after he scored and had assist against 4th division team he didn't start against Luton like week later. 

So Lamps didn't help him which is Tuchel doing now with Kepa. 

 

That Luton game should not be mentioned. It was Kepa's ridiculous mistake that got them back in the game. But at least he done the least of what was required from him tonight.

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1 minute ago, Stats said:

That Luton game should not be mentioned. It was Kepa's ridiculous mistake that got them back in the game. But at least he done the least of what was required from him tonight.

While Kepa did not make any blunders tonight, not sure if we should be praising him for simply doing his job, the most basic stuff against Newcastle. Not when he's the most expensive keeper in history. 

[Vesper 29,025]

The new order at Chelsea is working better for Kepa Arrizabalaga

https://theathletic.com/2389448/2021/02/16/kepa-arrizabalaga-thomas-tuchel-Chelsea/

It was not until the 62nd minute against Newcastle United that Kepa Arrizabalaga gave off the air of a goalkeeper truly comfortable in his own skin.

Jonjo Shelvey intercepted a rare loose Mateo Kovacic pass on the halfway line, looked up and identified the hint of an opportunity. He immediately hit a looping 50-yard shot that lacked the speed or the power to become a Charlie Adam, but still needed to be dealt with. It was exactly the sort of thing a midfielder like Shelvey would try to pull off. It was also exactly the sort of thing a goalkeeper with Kepa’s recent history may be inclined to take personally.

Moving back towards his goal with purpose but no sense of panic, Kepa turned to face the dropping ball. Having briefly raised his arms towards it, he then withdrew them and puffed out his chest, using it to steer the ball down to his feet with minimum body movement and maximum disdain for the attempt. It looked and felt like a statement, a warning to Shelvey and to anyone else who might think of trying it again.

“We need a strong Kepa in our squad,” Thomas Tuchel explained when asked by Sky Sports before kick-off why he had decided to give the Spain international his first Premier League start since the 3-3 draw with Southampton in October. “He had a good game in the cup (against Barnsley on Thursday), so we decided to give him another game to build up a little bit of rhythm, a little bit of confidence and to trust him. At the same time, we give Edu (Edouard Mendy) the chance to mentally recover. It’s a demanding position, mentally and concentration-wise, and with one decision we have both advantages.”

It seemed a risky call as the teams made their way out onto the Stamford Bridge pitch.

Entering the arena just behind captain and countryman Cesar Azpilicueta, Kepa was a bundle of nervous energy lining up in front of the East Stand, perhaps aware of the TV cameras lingering on him. Rubbing his gloved hands on the turf and swinging his arms about wildly before double high-fiving and hugging each of his team-mates, he then looked lost in his thoughts as he made the lonely walk to his penalty area.

His first contribution, in the fourth minute, was a pass to the right flank that trickled out of play. Shortly afterwards followed an image more in keeping with the rest of the first half: Kepa doing lunges some 40 yards from his own goal to stay loose as Chelsea prepared to take a corner. Newcastle’s reluctance to attack, or even to commit to pressing their hosts high up the pitch, provided the ideal environment for him to settle.

Soon he was barking advice and instructions to his team-mates, in between distributing the ball simply to those closest to him.

Chelsea’s notably more intense press largely kept Newcastle pinned back inside their own half and whenever it did not, the visitors lacked the precision or imagination to generate a shot on target until they found themselves 2-0 down after 40 minutes.

(All Kepa’s passes vs Newcastle: blue = successful, red = not)

Shelvey led the Newcastle rally when it came after the break, involved in the build-up to a tame Isaac Hayden shot that finally forced Kepa into action, then curling a free-kick that Chelsea’s goalkeeper soared to his right to catch — a good moment for the cameras as well as for the confidence.

Tuchel was less satisfied with Chelsea’s second-half display, though they were never made to feel more than mildly uncomfortable. Kepa’s most impressive save, a quick dash and dive to his left to parry Joe Willock’s header away from his far post, was good rather than sensational; in a functioning team no goalkeeper should need to be more than that, and this team has not conceded to an opposition player since the change of head coach three weeks ago.

Even defensive set pieces, a source of constant anxiety last season, offered no cause for concern with assistant Anthony Barry shouting reminders of team strategy and individual marking assignments from the touchline. Only the second phase of Newcastle’s fifth and final corner was met with a less than convincing punch from Kepa, in the kind of situation where Mendy is often at his most commanding.

Tuchel wasted no time in clearing up any broader uncertainty created by his decision to restore Kepa to the starting XI. “Edu is the No 1 and this is clear,” he said after the match. “This was clear before the game it stays like this. I’m very happy that Kepa continued with a second clean sheet in a row. It was the moment to let him feel the rhythm and build up his confidence, not only in the cup game but in a home game at Stamford Bridge. Edu will be in goal from now on because he recovered physically and mentally.”

Goalkeeper is just one of the delicate situations Tuchel has inherited. Mendy has been a positive story this season and while flaws in his game have presented themselves in recent weeks, he has not done anything to merit being dropped. Kepa, meanwhile, may never live up to his gargantuan transfer fee, but his career record suggests he is also not as bad as he has looked for the last 18 months. There is no desire at Chelsea to give up on him, and Frank Lampard making clear that he had done so towards the end of last season was one of many things that worked against him in the January reckoning.

So far, Tuchel has navigated a challenging squad landscape deftly, utilising the desire of those who felt overlooked by the previous management to his advantage while being careful not to be seen to exclude anyone himself. That balance will get harder to strike as he feels compelled to disappoint certain players in the weeks ahead, and his success in maintaining the improvement in results will partly depend on how many he can keep fully invested in what he is trying to build.

Kepa’s broad smile at full-time, towel draped over his shoulders as he embraced Azpilicueta, suggested the new order of things at Chelsea is at least working better for him.

 

[OneMoSalah 8,785]

19 hours ago, Vesper said:

you would never have posted this if he had went 'normal' and let in 2 howlers

sure, it is good to get him some playing time, BUT the EPL is no joke

True but again if we intend on moving him on at some point which if its financially doable for another team and acceptable for us, he will have to play sometimes to attract interest because when you had the season he had last season, cost what he did and are on what hes on, aint many clubs who can afford to take a gamble that big in the current situation. Cup games and the odd PL game is good enougu for me if he has no howlers. I think the 2 games in a row is good for him also as it gives him more minutes, those 2 clean sheets which would hopefully bring more confidence and maybe makes it a challenge for him to try start more now. Plus TT has spoken pretty well about him where as Lampard was maybe critical in the media with him regarding his save percentage at one point which maybe wasnt overly wise which we also seen with him throwing the team Under the bus a few times also. Although I still think Mendy will be number 1 as TT said but Kepa playing and doing decently, its not the worst thing because he will get sick of being a number 2 eventually and good performances will lead to interest from elsewhere.

I still think the decision to sign Cech as a GK this summer would of shattered what little confidence he had left after last season also. I mean I know it didnt turn out that Cech has played or even made a squad yet but must be pretty detrimental if you see that happening considering the guy retired 2 years ago. Never mind him, Willy also got a raw deal, demoted to 3rd choice after the deal to get Mendy.

Edited February 16, 2021 by OneMoSalah

[milka 3,355]

good anniversary 😶

 

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