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Chelsea manager Frank Lampard says Kepa Arrizabalaga “has to be strong enough” to overcome his slump, after the Spaniard lost another blow in Saturday’s 3-3 draw against Southampton.
Kepa has been overtaken as Lampard’s number one by the summer signing of Edouard Mendy, but with the Senegalese injured he was called up to the starting lineup for the clash with the Saints.
The Blues led 2-0 midway through the first half, but Kepa’s bizarre attempt to deal with Kurt Zouma’s back pass allowed Che Adams to make it 2-2, after Danny Ings halved the deficit.
Mendy’s injury is not long-term, but Kepa can still be called in the next few weeks and Lampard says he has to get out of his current routine.
“It has to be strong enough,” Lampard said. “That is part of the work in the practice of a high-level elite sport. The goalkeeper and his role means that they really have to do that.
(Pool via REUTERS)
“He will feel supported by me and his teammates and it’s unfortunate because he made some good saves today.
“You have to keep working. There is only one way to get through those moments and that is hard work and feeling the support of everyone around you.
“He makes two really good saves in the game but of course people’s eyes are drawn to the second goal, I understand that, and not only Kepa was involved.”
The bright spot for Lampard was the performance of Timo Werner, who scored his first Premier League goals with a tremendous first-half double.
“[They were] Really good individual goals in terms of how he did them for him, “added Lampard.” It looked good, our combination of play was really strong.
“Getting those goals will be great for him in terms of confidence, his first Premier League goals, and we’ll see more of that for him.”
