[ad_1]
Kepa Arrizabalaga’s poor form prompted the signing of Edouard Mendy and fears of a Covid-19 outbreak make Chelsea want more goalkeeper coverage
Chelsea stunned the soccer world ahead of their Champions League clash with Sevilla this week. His 25-player Premier League team roster was published shortly before kickoff and Petr Cech’s name was on it.
It has been 18 months since the legendary goalkeeper last played a professional match, but the Blues announced that he would provide “emergency” coverage as they anticipated potential team problems arising from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. .
An outbreak among the tight-knit group of goalkeepers could be particularly disastrous and this move is seen as an additional insurance policy, although Chelsea manager Frank Lampard admits he would not be afraid to put the previously retired 38-year-old into action.
“He’s definitely not made for romance,” Lampard said after his team’s 0-0 draw midweek of the decision to call him. “Pete certainly enjoys training because that’s the way it is. I’d enjoy training more if my calves weren’t tense every time I try to run these days.
“With Pete, I wouldn’t expect it to happen this year. But I know with his way of being and how fit he is that if we’re in times of crisis, you can’t ask for better than having Petr Cech around.
“I don’t expect it, but nobody expected what we’ve seen in the last six or seven months around the world.”
While rivals Manchester United left out seasoned No.2 Sergio Romero and Arsenal omitted Mesut Ozil from their squad rosters, Chelsea’s preponderance of young and home-grown players meant that the inclusion of Champions League winner Cech was a decision. simple.
He has been training alongside players like Kepa Arrizabalaga, Willy Caballero and new signing Edouard Mendy since the start of the season in what has been a problematic position for the club.
Cech, along with scout Christophe Lollichon, played a key role in bringing Mendy from his old club Rennes in a £ 22 million ($ 30 million) deal.
While his goalkeeper attributes were crucial to finalizing a deal, his mental attributes were also marked after a one-time sporting trip that saw him become unemployed for a year while trying to succeed in the sport.
“He has the qualities to get through tough times. It’s something that could help him,” Cech said of Mendy after joining.
“Coming to Chelsea there is a lot of pressure, but when you’ve had different pressures in your life before, like him when he was unemployed and out of work, you can deal much better with the pressure of football.”
Lampard is already happy with the Senegal star’s impact and has named him the number 1 goalkeeper, and Kepa’s role is likely to diminish.
“For the moment, yes [he is No.1]Lampard added.
“I said that when he entered he was good for the competition. We knew his qualities and he is already showing them. So, the way things are, yes. But that’s always something at stake, that’s why you have competition.” in clubs. “
Former Czech international Cech also played a role in the club’s other off-season transfer business, combining football operations with the boardroom in his role as technical and performance advisor.
Lampard has praised Cech’s work, with his ability to speak five major languages (Czech, English, German, Spanish, French) in concluding a series of deals worth around £ 220 million ($ 290 million) this summer.
“It feels like a real strength at camp to be able to talk to Petr regularly. I can talk to Marina and work together to move the club forward. All of that will come through the owner, it’s his club. It helps a lot. [having technical and performance advisor Cech]”Lampard said in July.
Cech, a goalie for the Guildford Phoenix semi-professional ice hockey team and a great drummer in his spare time, remains at his office job primarily, but his inclusion on the team roster could lead to a truly successful moment in either good or bad. evil. – circumstance.
“We had that space on the team and we know this year looks like no other due to Covid and isolation so it was very easy. Pete still does his day job and is there if we need him,” Lampard added. .
Cech is expected to improve the level of goalkeeping with his presence amid a streak of poor form since the club’s record £ 72 million ($ 95 million) signing Kepa which has seen him fall multiple times since Lampard took over as coach.
Kepa’s decline has been so dramatic that there have been questions about first-team goalkeeping coach Hilario, the only goalkeeper to record a worse save percentage than the Spanish international last season in 10 or more Premier League games. since 2003-04.
Chelsea’s public stance remains that Kepa is being backed by everyone at the club. However, the inclusion of Cech is a bad image for him, but he has had the opportunity to use it as something positive to rebuild confidence, both in himself and in the club in general.
