Blues deputy to Kepa place in showpiece

THOMAS TUCHEL believes Kepa Arrizabalaga deserves to start for Chelsea in tomorrow’s FA Cup final.

The Spain goalkeeper has slipped behind Edouard Mendy in Chelsea’s pecking order – except in the FA Cup in which the £72million club-record signing has started every match.

Boss Tuchel has confirmed Kepa (pictured) will play against Leicester as he did in Wednesday’s 1-0 home Premier League defeat to Arsenal.

‘He starts the FA Cup final, and we thought it was a good idea to give him the game before,’ said Tuchel.

‘We trust him and he deserves it, that is the basis of why we put him in the line-up. He deserves it. He is so close and good in training.’

Kepa was beaten by Emile Smith Rowe on Wednesday having clawed Jorginho’s back pass off the goal line.

‘We wanted to give him some minutes and it was an unlucky night for him as well,’ added Tuchel.