Tuchel ‘cannot hide’ keeper decision

By

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says he has to be completely honest about who is his number one goalkeeper for the sake of the squad.

The German surprisingly selected £71m signing Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal as the Blues beat Newcastle 2-0 on Monday night, but afterwards revealed that Edouard Mendy remains his number one.


“Edou is the number one and deserves to be the number one,” Tuchel said. “It is a sensitive position where you need to be clear and cannot hide. You cannot hide your opinion in press conferences or in the dressing room.

“Things have to be clear and you cannot be afraid of it and we are not.

“Everybody loves to play. This is important that the group of goalkeepers is strong together. I feel a strong bond in them together, even though they are competitors.

“They are a team within the team, and we need all of them ready because games are coming at the highest level every three to four days.”

Tuchel, who has overseen four consecutive wins in a five-match unbeaten Premier League run since replacing Frank Lampard as boss, said it was vital to have “three strong goalkeepers”. Chelsea’s trio is completed by Argentine Willy Caballero, 39.

Mendy, 28, has started four of the five games under Tuchel, only conceding one goal – the Antonio Rudiger own goal against Sheffield United. Kepa, 26, kept clean sheets against both Barnsley and Newcastle.

“Everybody to be ready because the challenge is high,” Tuchel added.

“The goals to achieve are high in this club. We need everybody to be ready. Not just the goalkeeper but all 22 guys on the field to be ready now. That’s whatever they are needed for. If we need them for five minutes then they have to be ready to play five minutes, from the beginning or half-time.

“If you are not in the squad from a bad decision, maybe next time we need you. This is the topic for the next few weeks and this includes Kepa.

“Kepa did two good matches with two clean sheets. This is the best he can do for his confidence and it is also what we expect from him. It is the best performance but nothing has changed. Edou is still number one.”