The latest on Kepa's future as Chelsea shot-stopper prepares for Krasnodar start

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has this evening provided an update on the future of struggling goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Mendy shining

To say that the early months of the new campaign have proven of a testing nature for Kepa would of course be putting it lightly.

Upon the season getting underway, the under-fire Spaniard, who endured a nightmare term in 2019/20, actually remained first-choice between the posts at Stamford Bridge.

A series of disappointing displays, however, saw patience quickly wear thin, eventually resulting in Chelsea pushing through a deal for a new shot-stopper.

Edouard Mendy was the man chosen to reinforce the goalkeeping ranks in southwest London, though Frank Lampard, upon the Senegalese's arrival, was quick to assure that he had been brought in to provide competition to Kepa, rather than replace the 26-year-old.

This, however, to the surprise of just about no-one, has since not proven to be the case.

Mendy has gone on to quickly establish himself as the Pensioners' undisputed no.1, playing a central role in the club's stark improvement at the back of late.、

'Have to do the right thing'

Kepa, in turn, has not made a single appearance since a Premier League meeting with Southampton back in October, during which the Spanish international conceded 3 times.

As such, speaking ahead of his side's latest fixture, tomorrow night, Frank Lampard was this evening drawn on both his backup shot-stopper's potential participation, and future at the club.

First, with the January window inching ever closer, the Chelsea boss was keen to assure that he is under absolutely 'no pressure' to move Kepa on:

'No, there's no pressure. The pressure, and I'm not saying this has been spoken about, is to win games.'

'I have to do the right thing game by game of course. And Mendy has made himself a permanent fixture at this point. Because the pressure to win games means I pick people in form: goalkeeper, striker, winger, whoever.'

And Lampard later went on to confirm that the club's most expensive-ever signing is in fact in line to start on Tuesday, when Chelsea welcome Krasnodar to Stamford Bridge for a largely meaningless Champions League group stage tie:

'But at the same time with the game tomorrow it's obviously an opportunity to give Edou a rest and Kepa a game; he's been training well and he deserves it.'