Kepa’s the man for a tight spot
BLUES’ SUPER PEN SAVER WANTS MORE
CHELSEA goalkeeper Kepa is desperate to be more than an expensive lucky charm for the Premier League leaders.
The 27-year-old won a third penalty shoot-out of the season on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup as the Blues edged past Southampton 4-3 after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge.
Kepa, who arrived from Athletic Bilbao in 2018, has only started one league match this season and remains a £72m understudy to Edouard Mendy.
Senegal international Mendy has been in brilliant form this season, conceding just three goals in the top flight.
But against Saints, Kepa made big saves in normal time, although he was at fault for Che Adams’ equaliser, and then tipped Theo Walcott’s spot-kick onto a post.
And that comes after helping Thomas Tuchel’s side to the UEFA Super Cup against Villarreal after a shoot-out, and seeing off Aston Villa in similar fashion earlier in the Carabao Cup. Kepa said: “Of course I want to play more regularly. My last game was also a cup game, more or less a month ago.
“So it’s not easy to sometimes step in and feel the same as you would if you play every week. But I try to be ready, train hard, be involved in the team.
“Also, I feel the confidence of the manager. I’ve felt his support from the beginning and I think when I step in, I’m ready to help the team.
“It’s important to take your chance. I want to keep playing. I really want to enjoy being on the pitch with that pressure.”
Although little can be guaranteed amid the pandemic, the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for Cameroon early next year, could see Mendy away for six weeks or more. Kepa added: “It is two months away. We know it can happen, and I will be ready.
“But we have a lot of games until we start thinking about that. If he goes, then all the best and I’ll be ready. But it’s still a long way to arrive at that point.”
Kepa’s shoot-out record this season is all a long way from the 2019 League Cup Final.
On that occasion he defied then manager Maurizio Sarri and refused to come off for specialist Willy Caballero for a shoot-out that the Blues went on to lose.
Kepa said: “I’ve always said I try to help the team in the best way, but I do feel good at penalties. I feel confident.
“It’s a bit of luck, a bit of work, a bit of everything, but I feel good. I’m happy to help the team and win on penalties for the third time this season.”