Good morning, Chelsea fans. Here is your Chelsea morning digest for Monday, October 19.
Azpilicueta's message for struggling Kepa
Cesar Azpilicueta has urged Kepa Arrizabalaga to show the “character and personality” required to turn around his Chelsea career.
Kepa has struggled since his £71.6 move arrival at Stamford Bridge from Athletic Club in the summer of 2018, with the Spaniard making a gaffe in the 3-3 draw against Southampton on Saturday after being handed a second chance to prove himself after Edouard Mendy’s injury.
Azpilicueta has offered words of advice to his countryman and has backed Kepa to overcome his troubles and become a key figure for the Blues.
“In football, we have difficult times. In my position as captain, obviously, I know him from a long time ago. I always try to help him,” Azpilicueta said.
“Sometimes you feel like everything goes against you. You have to have the character and personality to face it. I have no doubt Kepa will work hard to reverse the situation.
"The whole squad are fighting for targets as a collective. When you are a goalkeeper it’s a completely different situation but he will keep working hard, giving his best.”
Lopetegui believes Chelsea can win Champions League
Sevilla head coach Julen Lopetegui sees Chelsea as one of the teams that can win the Champions League this season.
The Blues will kick off their 2020/21 European campaign against last season’s Europa League winners on tonight and Lopetegui has named Frank Lampard’s side as Champions League contenders ahead of the match.
“We are against one of the teams that can win the competition in Chelsea. We need to perform well tomorrow, that’s the only thing we can do,” said Lopetegui.
The Sevilla boss also reflected on how both sides have struggled with a lack of a pre-season.
He said: "We have been saying this since everything start amid this complex situation, I don’t think you can look at these things too much and I think you just need to focus on adapting the best as possible with solutions.”
Lampard given injury boost as Mendy trains
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has received a significant injury boost ahead of the Champions League season opener against Sevilla on Tuesday.
Edouard Mendy missed the 3-3 draw against Southampton on Saturday after picking up a thigh injury while on international duty with Senegal, but returned to training with the rest of the Blues squad on Monday.
The Frenchman is in contention to feature for Chelsea against last season’s Europa League winners, which will be a relief to Lampard after Arrizabalaga’s poor performance against Southampton.
Mendy made his Chelsea debut against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup and kept a clean sheet in his first Premier League appearance against Crystal Palace.
