KEPA ARRIZABALAGA looks set to return for Chelsea’s crunch home clash with Manchester United.
The £71.6million keeper was dropped for their 2-2 draw at Leicester after a string of blunders.
Kepa has been in poor form and paid the price by losing his No1 spot for the Leicester clashCredit: PA:Empics Sport
As SunSport exclusively revealed, manager Frank Lampard held clear-the-air talks with Kepa, 25, during the recent winter break.
And ahead of Monday night’s showdown with United, Lampard revealed: “Kepa’s reaction has been good, as I would expect.
“Working hard, head down. I don’t expect smiley faces when people get dropped, just a reaction.
“It is not easy — as a player I was not brilliant at this myself. But I think sometimes it can make you stronger.”
Blues legend Lampard was a near ever-present during his time at Stamford Bridge but there were the odd occasion he was benched during his trophy-laden stint at the club.
It happened under Andre Villas-Boas in 2012 for a Champions League defeat at Napoli, which paved the way for the Portuguese’s sacking weeks later.
And Lampard had to become more used to rotation in his twilight years.
The 41-year-old recalled: “I was fortunate as a player here because I played a lot of games.
“Probably in my early 30s it slightly changed, and at the time I didn’t like it. But then you have to be a team-mate, and you have to be part of the club and you have to accept it.
“Everyone has these things and you can’t pull the wool over their eyes or be too sweet about it, because it is what it is.
“The only thing I ever found that got me back into the team or through a moment was hard work on the training ground.
“If you are going to sulk and if I ever did sulk, I would quickly try to readdress that myself and realise that I can only affect one thing, and that’s how I train to be ready to play.”
Monday’s game comes too soon for crocked duo Christian Pulisic – who trained with the Under-23s yesterday – and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
While top-scorer Tammy Abraham will be assessed this weekend after missing a few training sessions this week through injury.
Lampard has been boosted by the news winger Hakim Ziyech will be joining in the summer from Ajax – though the Moroccan will miss a month of next term due to the African Cup of Nations.
The Chelsea chief added: “I see the bigger picture on that.
“I do think there is an issue with cup being held in those months for how it affects the major leagues in Europe.
“At the same time we’re signing a player for the long-term vision. I was aware of it but it didn’t take any effect.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
