Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has backed Kepa but refused to rule out a new signing, according to remarks made, following The Blues’ season-opening victory over Brighton.
Last night’s encounter marked the first game of the domestic season for the west London outfit, who overcame Brighton 3-1 away at the Amex Stadium, to climb into third in the Premier League.
Despite the three points, questions were once again asked of The Blues defensive display. Their concession of 54 league goals last season, recorded their second-worst defensive showing since the Premier League began in 1992-93.
One of the biggest contributing factors to the number, was the disappointing form of ‘keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who had fallen out-of-favour towards the latter stages of last season.
Lampard’s side faced 13 shots against The Seagulls and were pegged back at one stage, with the shot-stopper unable to keep out Leandro Trossard’s long-range strike.
Lampard addressed the concession of the goal on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football segment and insisted that there was little that the Spaniard could do in regards to saving the effort.
“I think with the shot I’m not sure he could have done any better but I saw a bit more confidence in how he was playing.
“I’m happy with him. Kepa’s here, he’s our keeper and I’m happy with him.”
No new goalkeeper ‘at the moment’
This window, The Blues have already brought in Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr, Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz.
When asked whether there was the possibility of a new Chelsea keeper arriving at the club, Lampard dismissed the speculation, saying, “Not at the moment.
“There’s obviously some weeks to go until the end of the window,” he added, “We’ve got a big squad now so we have to manage that and look at how we move forward in terms of getting the right level of competition within the squad, but no news with that one at the minute.”
Édouard Mendy competition
The Blues have been heavily linked with Rennes ‘keeper Édouard Mendy, as the Spaniard’s successor, and according to The Metro had reportedly agreed terms with the Senegal international.
However, Lampard reiterated his delight with Kepa as his number one choice and suggested that any potential alternatives, would only serve as competition – a theme that echoed within his whole Chelsea contingent.
“If we are bringing in competition, it will be competition, that’s the nature of Chelsea so that goes throughout the squad. So we’ll see.”
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