Cesar Azpilicueta has paid tribute to the mental fortitude of his Chelsea team-mate and national team colleague Kepa Arrizabalaga for staying positive during some difficult times and fighting to earn back his place between the posts for the Blues.
The Spanish goalkeeper is the only player to have started all nine matches under Graham Potter, with just four goals conceded during that run earning impressive reviews and a consistent spell in the side.
Azpilicueta believes that redemptive story arc is testament to the hidden work that Kepa has put in and the strength of character he has demonstrated.
‘I’m really happy for him,’ the skipper said recently. ‘Of course he has had tough moments but the strength from him is to always stay positive and to train hard every day.
‘We know as a player that you want to play all the time but the manager makes the decision. As a goalkeeper, it is a unique position where I cannot say much because they train on their own a lot of times.
‘They spend a lot of time together so it is a very rare position with their own pressure. They are the last man in goal so every mistake is very watchable and a lot of people criticise them. It shows his mentality to be strong and keep working hard for his chance.’
The Blues are blessed with quality goalkeeping options and now is the time for Edouard Mendy to stay patient as understudy. However, Azpilicueta knows that the mentality is good throughout the group, ensuring that whoever is picked by Potter remains ready and willing to step in.
‘We have a fantastic group of goalkeepers with Edou and Betts [Marcus Bettinelli] as well and that’s the joy of our team, to have these guys every day,’ he added.
‘Whoever plays, everyone is 100 per cent and the day after, everyone is trying to help. We are very lucky to have an amazing group of goalkeepers.’
Kepa has not played for the Spanish national team since October 2020 but his return to the Chelsea side may just have opened the door for a place in Luis Enrique’s World Cup squad. There is stiff competition for those gloves too, with Athletic Bilbao’s Unai Simon the recognised number one.
David De Gea and Robert Sanchez, the goalkeeper we faced last weekend in the Premier League and the one we are due to face on Saturday afternoon, are the other strong contenders and Azpilicueta acknowledges that La Roja are blessed with plenty of options.
‘Both him and David, they have both been in England for a long time,’ added Azpi.
‘We are lucky to have very good goalkeepers in Spain.’