Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has revealed why he has remained at the club this season despite interest in him during the summer transfer window.
The Spaniard was linked with a move away from the Blues ahead of the current campaign.
However, despite interest from clubs around Europe, a move didn’t materialise and he remains as part of the Chelsea squad.
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Upon his arrival in 2018, Kepa was seen as the number one choice to play in goal for the west London side, and he did well in his debut season in English football.
Despite this, he soon made some crucial mistakes, and the club decided to bring in a new option to compete for the position between the sticks.
Edouard Mendy was signed and soon enough, Kepa found himself as the number two choice for Chelsea, therefore suggesting he may leave in the summer.
Now that the transfer window has ended, the Spanish international has revealed that the club wanted him to stay for the season.
Kepa told El Larguero, as quoted by Sport Witness: “Yes, there were things, but the club always gave me their trust, they always wanted me to be part of the squad.
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“We analysed it and I am happy to stay and be in this great club.”
He also spoke on the arrival of new head coach Graham Potter.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang breaks silence on Chelsea’s decision to sack Thomas Tuchel
The 47-year-old arrived last week following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, with his success on the south coast at Brighton and Hove Albion making him a strong candidate for the job.
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“In the end it has only been a couple of days that we have been with him (Potter), it has been a bit of a crazy week,” said Kepa.
“When a coach with whom we have had so many good moments leaves, it is always a bit sad. With the new coach, there’s new ideas.”
Kepa has started in Chelsea’s last two matches.
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Mendy has recently made mistakes in goal for the Blues, but has also picked up an injury.
The former has featured against Dinamo Zagreb and FC Salzburg so far this season, with both results seeing Chelsea sit bottom of Group E in the Champions League.
For Potter, the Salzburg match was his first in charge for his new side as the west London outfit picked up a draw against their Austrian opposition.
Their next game won’t be until the beginning of October, with a trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace awaiting them after the international break.
Topics: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Chelsea
Robert Calcutt