Chelsea should stick by Kepa Arrizabalaga, says former Blues goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, who also believes that the Spaniard has shown his mettle since being dropped by Frank Lampard.
“I was probably in the minority as a goalkeeper as I didn’t mind
competition for places,” Bosnich told Goal. “I thought being a
goalkeeper was the same as any position that if you are not playing
well, then it is understandable that someone else comes in.
“With
Kepa, it is a little bit different because of the price tag that
surrounds him but it wasn’t Frank Lampard who bought him. It was
somebody else. I was impressed with the way he came back but he has been
struggling a little bit this season.
“It is completely
understandable as a manager if someone is not doing it for you at a big
club you think somewhere else. There are stories around about Donnarumma
or Onana but with any goalkeeper you talk about purchasing, especially
from abroad, there’s nothing like playing the position in England.
“There’s
more physical challenges on the crosses that you get in England than
anywhere else in the world. You have to be careful. I am not privy to
what’s gone on behind the scenes but if a manager-player relationship
breaks down, then that’s a different matter.
“I just think it was down to his form which in terms of the standard when he first came, it hasn’t been up to scratch this season. Frank was well within his rights to leave him out when he did but I thought he did well when he came back.
“I rate Kepa, I thought he was a superb shot-stopper with good
agility and his kicking was okay for me. I think people make too much of
his problems with distribution but the first job is to keep the ball
out of the net. Kicking is a bonus.
“In terms of dominating
his box, he is young and slight so it has taken time to get to grips
with that. That’s something they need to work on. For me, he has not
been a disaster in any sense of the word. He has done okay so far.
“It
is difficult to follow Petr Cech in their most successful era at the
club. Then you have Thibaut Courtois, who was exceptional as well. I
believe that Kepa has the ability given time to get to that level.”
Bosnich
had a troubled spell in west London after a failed drugs test saw him
exit after an injury-hit spell upon joining from Manchester United.
The
former Australia international got his life back on track but he struck
up a friendship with a young Lampard in his time at the club. He thinks
that Chelsea are in a good place under his former team-mate and
believes the Blues will be ready to challenge for titles sooner than his
other former club Man United.
“I was very close to Frank
before what happened to me happened,” he added. “He had fantastic
footballing knowledge; he was one of the greatest midfielders in the
world at the time.
“He won everything there was and he had a real advantage of playing under so many different great managers which gives you many different perspectives to learn off. He had the transfer ban which was overturned but then they didn’t sign anyone in January.
“Using young players, he has done a fantastic job. Patience is like
gold these days and I think Chelsea need some patience. Once he gets the
chance to sign players he needs to add to his team and open up the
cheque book, I believe he will be fine in terms of getting it right to
challenge for titles. I don’t think it will take as long to challenge
than it will Manchester United.
“I don’t think it will take as long for Chelsea because they didn’t drop as dramatically as United since the Sir Alex days.”
The
Premier League remains in hiatus following the Covid-19 public health
crisis and Chelsea are in fourth place with a three-point gap on United.
Both clubs have nine games left to play in their run-in.
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