Kepa ‘not liked’ by Lampard as he faces Chelsea exit

Joe Williams
Kepa Arrizabalaga Frank Lampard Chelsea

Kepa Arrizabalaga faces a fight over his future at Chelsea as he risks being frozen out at Chelsea, according to reports.

The 25-year-old Spain international was axed for Willy Caballero for Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Leicester.

It was the first time Kepa had been left on the bench in the Premier League this term after a string of recent errors and woeful season statistics.

Chelsea have kept just five clean sheets in the league all season and Lampard felt it was time to act.

And now Spanish media outlet Cope (via the Daily Mirror) claims that Kepa ‘is not liked’ by Lampard.

Lampard’s recent decision to drop the Spaniard means it is ‘very difficult [for Kepa] to start again here at the end of the season’.

The Chelsea boss has ‘asked the board for a substitute’ and the report adds that Kepa will have a ‘hard time playing again’ at Stamford Bridge.

On his decision to drop Kepa against Leicester, Lampard said: “You make decisions every week and every day in this job. No decision is easy.

“When it comes to a goalkeeper you probably do give it a little bit more thought and a bit more time, especially if someone seems to be the designated number one.

“That can’t be the end of the story. We have to be competitive. Willy trains well, he acts well and he played well against Hull last week. I decided to stick with him.”