Chelsea legend Petr Cech explains ‘hard decision’ behind axing Kepa Arrizabalaga for Club World Cup final Mendy shines

PETR CECH has lifted the lid on the ‘hard decision’ to bench Kepa Arrizabalaga in favour of Edouard Mendy in the Club World Cup final.

Arrizabalaga had been Chelsea’s first choice while Mendy was away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Reuters

Kepa Arrizabalaga has played back-up to Edouard Mendy this season[/caption]

And fans assumed boss Thomas Tuchel would stick with the Spain international for the showdown with Palmeiras on Saturday.

Mendy saved a penalty to help Senegal claim a first Afcon title last weekend and only linked up with his Blues team-mates on Wednesday.

Now Chelsea technical director Cech has revealed the thinking behind the 29-year-old’s speedy return to the starting line-up.

He told Channel 4: “We have top goalkeepers, they both perform on the top level this season.

“It makes it hard. The same with the other players, a 25 member squad but can only field 11 players.

“We chose to go with Edou because he’s our No1 goalkeeper, he came over here, trained and is fit. I think it’s a hard decision to make but he’s our No1, he plays.”

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While there is little to choose between the pair in terms of stats, it now looks increasingly likely Arrizabalaga will head for the Stamford Bridge exit this summer.

He arrived in West London as the world’s most expensive keeper back in 2018.

But he has seen his star fade after a series of shaky performances and the arrival of Mendy from Rennes in 2020.

Tuchel’s faith in Mendy was restored as the 29-year-old made two key saves to help Chelsea seal the last trophy to have eluded them in the Roman Abramovich era.

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