NEXT TIME I WILL COME OFF!
CHELSEA KEEPER KEPA ON THAT WEMBLEY FIASCO
WHen ke p a Arrizabalaga reflects on his first season at chelsea and the biggest difference between London and his life in the basque country, he reaches for the gloom.
‘i am used to the rain,’ says kepa. ‘it rains a lot in bilbao so that hasn’t been so bad but the biggest thing was in the winter when it gets dark so quickly.’
He has welcomed the change in the seasons. Spring has enabled him to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air. As a boy he would spend hours in the hills of northern Spain ‘walking with the birds’ and he is not the sort to stay cooped up for long.
The passing of winter has also helped to distance him from the storm which erupted in the carabao cup final against manchester city at Wembley.
Ten weeks have passed since he refused to be substituted, driving manager maurizio Sarri into a touchline rage and leaving veteran back-up goalkeeper Willy caballero fuming quietly.
kepa, 24, was fined by chelsea and dropped for one game and statements were issued but at last he is able to reflect and put it down to his lack of experience.
‘it was news around the world,’ says kepa with a slight shake of his head and a sheepish smile.
‘People were talking about it and talking badly. it is normal for people to talk. my father spoke to me after when we were at home but he didn’t need to say a lot to me. by then i realised what i had done and there was not a lot left to say.
‘ it was a difficult week. it happened on Sunday, on Wednesday i didn’t play against Tottenham and then i was back to play against Fulham.
‘i accepted what the manager said and the club fine and i realised i wouldn’t play the next game. i was right behind Willy and supported him and the team as much as i could.
‘Of course, that was the only thing i could do.
‘it was something i did in the heat of the moment. it’s something i am not very proud of.
‘it was a difficult moment which i’ve learned from and i’m still learning from. now it’s time for me to look forward.
‘i said i was sorry. Football goes on. We all make mistakes.’
The game was goalless and heading towards penalties when the chelsea goalkeeper twice called for treatment for what Sarri thought was cramp.
The manager decided to replace him and prepared caballero, but kepa made it clear he wasn’t injured and did not want to come off ahead of the shootout.
After all, he had been the hero against Tottenham in the semifinals when he saved from Lucas moura in the same situation.
Only later did he realise how it had all looked to those watching the final. it didn’t help when city went on to win the trophy.
‘The only thing i wanted to say was that i was not injured and i was Ok to carry on,’ said kepa. ‘i was not thinking about the penalties.
‘i wasn’t totally aware of everything that had happened.
‘it wasn’t until i looked back for the first time at the images that i realised. i saw it from a different perspective. until that point, it was like i was in a bubble and wasn’t conscious of what was going on.
‘i started to see it all when i arrived home for the first time and saw the video.
‘That was the first time i realised what happened. i’ve learned a lesson and the next time it will be different. When i am asked to change, i will change.’
The world’s most expensive goalkeeper was born and raised in the basque fishing village of Ondarroa, midway between bilbao and San Sebastian.
He joined the celebrated academy of Athletic club in bilbao at the age of nine and would travel to training with four friends, who made the 45- minute journey together to the basque city up to four times a week.
‘my village was a mix of Athletic supporters and real Sociedad supporters,’ says kepa. ‘People
‘I send Casillas huge good wishes for a swift and full recovery’
either support one or the other. I chose from an early age to support Athletic and that’s where I started to play as a kid. ‘So I’d make the journey to Bilbao with friends by bus or taxis because my father was working and the club would put on some transport.
‘That’s how it was until I grew older and moved through the different age groups.
‘I don’t think I had a future as a fisherman. If I wasn’t a player I would have been working in something to do with sport, like a physio. I’d started a university course, training for a qualification in sports and fitness.’
His parents travel to London to see almost every home game.
‘They are on the road, travelled a lot,’ he says. ‘It has been a big change for them, too, to have their son over here.’
Kepa played the traditional Basque sport of pelota when he was young and spent much of his spare time walking with his father, catching goldfinches to keep as cage birds.
At Chelsea, he found out Paulo Ferreira, the former Portuguese full back who is now on the coaching staff, enjoyed to do the same when he was a child.
‘It was allowed in those days,’ says Kepa. ‘People would often keep birds in their home, at least one or two birds. My dad liked keeping them.
‘I would go with him into the mountains. I’ve always liked to be at one with nature. Being outdoors, walking and being with the birds. It’s a healthy interest and hobby. Because of football, it’s not something I can do as often as I used to.’
By the age of 16 he was involved with the Athletic first team, learning from coaches such as Marcelo Bielsa. He was an unused substitute for two La Liga matches in 2012 before spending 18 months on loan in the second tier with Ponferradina and Real Valladolid.
It was Ernesto Valverde, now Barcelona manager, who gave him his debut for Athletic against Deportivo La Coruna in September 2016, at the age of 21. The following year came his Spain debut against Costa Rica.
Kepa was in Frankfurt preparing for the first leg of Chelsea’s Europa League semi-final when he heard the shocking news that Iker Casillas had suffered a heart attack while training with Porto.
‘I hope it was nothing more serious than a scare and a warning,’ he says. ‘I send him huge good wishes from here for a swift and full recovery. We play football but we are human beings and your personal health is the most important thing.
‘I was coming through the youth ranks just at the time when Iker was at his peak. He was one of the best around and it was such a huge shock.
‘ I never really had one idol because there were several, I would study all goalkeepers: Victor Valdes, Casillas and Pepe Reina, Petr Cech. I would take little things I liked about different keepers and try to incorporate them into my game, irrespective of whether they were top keepers or from a lower standard.’
Manchester United’s David de Gea warned him what to expect when he arrived in England last summer after Chelsea agreed to pay Athletic £71million and gave him a seven-year contract.
‘I spoke with De Gea many times in the national team,’ says Kepa, breaking into English. He arrived without speaking a word of it and admits he is not the most conscientious of students, but he is picking it up the language and promises to work harder at it next year.
‘He told me the first season in England for him was difficult in every aspect, that’s always quite tough. Change always takes a bit of time and effort. Change is always difficult. The style of football in the league is different to the football played in Spain.
‘That’s what I’ve noticed the most. It’s more physical, the referees let a lot more go and allow a lot more contact here. Before I came here I would have my routine work out in the gym and a plan I followed. I’ve not had to change it greatly.’
Kepa flexes his biceps and breaks into a grin. He is pleasant company with not a trace of the arrogance which was implied by his refusal to leave the Wembley pitch, which is destined to become the enduring image of his first season at Chelsea.
There is still time, however, to leave another mark on the season. Sarri’s team are at home against Watford tomorrow as they try to secure fourth place in the Premier League and return to the Champions League next season.
There would also be another cup final on the horizon if they can finish the job against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday after the 1-1 draw in Germany this week.
‘That is our target,’ says Kepa. ‘To finish in the top four, reach the Europa League final and win a trophy. We know it’s not easy but that would be a good first season.
‘It’s been great. It is a change, everything’s different, a new country, a new league, a new team but it has given me a step forward in my career and that’s why I have committed to sign for Chelsea for so many years.
‘I am really happy with how things have started. I am trying to adapt and that is something I must continue to do.’
Kepa is supporting the Chelsea Foundation and the asian Star event at Stamford Bridge on May 18. The free event is designed to give a much-needed boost to asian participation in football with places still available for boys and girls aged nine to 12. Go to chelseafc.com.
‘It’s a lot more physical in England, the referees let a lot more go’