Lampard jumps to Kepa defence, says Kepa not leaving Chelsea
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EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: CONTAINS WHITE FLASHES
VIDEO SHOWS: NEWS CONFERENCE WITH CHELSEA MANAGER FRANK LAMPARD AHEAD OF THEIR CARABAO CUP FOURTH ROUND MATCH AGAINST TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR WITH BITES ON KEPA ARRIZABALAGA, EDOUARD MENDY AND BEN CHILWELL AND SAYING HE EXPECTS TO FACE A TOUGH TOTTENHAM LINEUP DESPITE TIGHT FIXTURE
SHOWS: STOKE D'ABERNON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 28, 2020) (CHELSEA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)
1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, FRANK LAMPARD, ON KEPA ARRIZABALAGA, SAYING:
"No, I certainly won't go to the point of (Kepa Arrizabalaga) playing his last game for Chelsea. I think it's been a difficult time for Kepa. I think that's well documented; I know it and he knows it, but we should certainly not jump to that conclusion. And also I think, which I felt quite strongly about in the last week is, also understand that Kepa is a young man. A lot of hotlight or spotlight on him, I think, has become slightly unfair. I have to protect him because I know he's a good lad and playing with absolute professionalism and intent to do the best he can, as all the squad have to. And that's as much as I want to say about it now."
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3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, FRANK LAMPARD, ON EDOUARD MENDY AND BEN CHILWELL BEING ON SQUAD TO FACE TOTTENHAM, AND HAKIM ZIYECH AND CHRISTIAN PULISIC STILL IN RECOVERY, SAYING:
"Yeah, (Edouard) Mendy and (Ben) Chilwell are in the squad for tomorrow. So, they are fit. So, we'll see whether they start or not. And then the other ones, (Hakim) Ziyech and (Christian) Pulisic are not far away. They're still in their recovery stage. So, it's too early for them, both."
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5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, FRANK LAMPARD, ON BUSY FIXTURE TOTTENHAM FACE, SAYING:
"Yeah, I mean, I know that and I know for Jose it's a busy time for Tottenham because of the Europa League. It's a busy time for us all. You know, they had a free midweek last week, we didn't. But I know they have a busy week this week, but when I analyse Tottenham and know the squad they have, and analyse what might be a team that maybe didn't play 90 minutes yesterday, they have a fantastic squad. So, I feel any squad Jose will put out can be very strong. I think we all know the Carabao Cup for teams like ourselves and Tottenham that are challenging for top four and Champions League, like we are, then the Carabao Cup does have it's place. But we certainly respect it and every tournament we go in, we try and win."
STORY: Chelsea boss Frank Lampard launched an impassioned defence of under-fire goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on Monday (September 28), saying most of the criticism directed his way for errors he made has been unfair.
Kepa was dropped from the starting lineup in Chelsea's last two matches after his error cost the London side in their 2-0 Premier League defeat by Liverpool last week, with Willy Caballero starting in goal.
Chelsea also signed goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for a reported 22 million pounds ($28.30 million dollars) from Stade Rennais last week to provide competition, but Lampard said it did not mean Kepa would be leaving now or in the January transfer window.
Mendy was unavailable for the weekend's 3-3 draw at West Bromwich Albion but Lampard said the 28-year-old would be in the squad for the Spurs clash, along with new 50 million pound left back signing Ben Chilwell.
However, Lampard confirmed wingers Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic were "still in their recovery stage" and would not play a part.
Chelsea play a Spurs side who received a bye into the last-16 after third round opponents Leyton Orient had players test positive for COVID-19, leading to the match being called off.
Spurs have a congested fixture schedule, with a Europa League qualifier against Maccabi Haifa on Thursday (October 1), but Lampard said he still expected manager Jose Mourinho to name a strong lineup.
(Production: Kurt Michael Hall)
