Chelsea legend Petr Cech explains ‘onerous choice’ behind axing Kepa Arrizabalaga for Membership World Cup remaining Mendy shines

PETR CECH has lifted the lid on the ‘onerous choice’ to bench Kepa Arrizabalaga in favour of Edouard Mendy within the Membership World Cup remaining.

Arrizabalaga had been Chelsea’s first selection whereas Mendy was away on Africa Cup of Nations obligation.

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And followers assumed boss Thomas Tuchel would stick to the Spain worldwide for the showdown with Palmeiras on Saturday.

Mendy saved a penalty to assist Senegal claim a first Afcon title final weekend and solely linked up with his Blues team-mates on Wednesday.

Now Chelsea technical director Cech has revealed the considering behind the 29-year-old’s speedy return to the beginning line-up.

He informed Channel 4: “We have now high goalkeepers, they each carry out on the highest stage this season.

“It makes it onerous. The identical with the opposite gamers, a 25 member squad however can solely subject 11 gamers.

“We selected to go along with Edou as a result of he’s our No1 goalkeeper, he came to visit right here, skilled and is match. I feel it’s a tough choice to make however he’s our No1, he performs.”

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Whereas there’s little to choose between the pair by way of stats, it now appears more and more probably Arrizabalaga will head for the Stamford Bridge exit this summer season.

He arrived in West London because the world’s most expensive keeper again in 2018.

However he has seen his star fade after a sequence of shaky performances and the arrival of Mendy from Rennes in 2020.

Tuchel’s religion in Mendy was restored because the 29-year-old made two key saves to assist Chelsea seal the last trophy to have eluded them within the Roman Abramovich period.

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