Former African POTY Ikpeba backs Kepa as Chelsea's new first choice GK over Mendy
Published: October 17, 2022
Former Super Eagles star Victor Ikpeba believes Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has the best chance of becoming the first choice goalkeeper at Chelsea after of a string of good performances of late for Chelsea.
The Spaniard has felt the ruthless criticisms of Chelsea fans for some uninspiring games in the past but Ikpeba has described the keeper as a "talented" custodian who could usurp Senegalese Edouard Mendy as the first choice at Stamford Bridge.
"But that's not the same Kepa happening and you have a new manager," Ikpeba said on Monday Night Football magazine show on SuperSport in response to a question posed to him as regards the dilemma faced by manager Graham Potter.
"Mendy had his own bad games, bad runs and he's been given the opportunity - it's a little bit straight.
"When you have a goalkeeper that has won the UEFA Champions League, becomes the number one of the team and he's struggling at the beginning of the season. I have never felt that Kepa wasn't a good keeper," Ikpeba noted.
The 1997 African Footballer of The Year award winner stressed that patience should be the watchword when a player is not accustomed to a new league as they could bounce back to show their true qualities.
"Sometimes he needs time to get used to the English Premier League and he's shown that he's a talented keeper. He's shown huge mentality.
"That's a winning mentality or fighting, having the opportunity to come back. He now has it, he's going to be the number at Chelsea.
"There's no way the manager is going to drop him. He's shown all his potential. A lot of money was spent on him," Ikpeba concluded.
Mendy is back in training after time off due to injury ahead of Chelsea's clash against Manchester United this weekend.
Izuchukwu Michael
Photo Credit : chelseafc.com
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