Thomas Tuchel has revealed why Kepa Arrizabalaga started Chelsea's Premier League clash with Newcastle United this evening.
The Chelsea team news brought a huge shock with Kepa handed his first start in the Premier League since the 3-3 draw with Southampton on October 17 after impressing in the FA Cup clash with Barnsley last Thursday.
The Spaniard came under intense criticism early in the season which saw him replaced by Edouard Mendy, who was signed amid Kepa's disappointing form.
But Tuchel said last week that Kepa would get a fresh start during his reign with the German keen to give every player a shot at impressing him having only arrived in late January.
The £72million acquisition was handed a start against Barnsley in the cup after those comments, and after impressing, he has kept his place for this evening's clash with Newcastle.
Explaining the shock decision ahead of the game, Tuchel told Sky Sports: "We need a strong Kepa in our squad and he had a good game in the cup, so we decided to give him another match to build up a little bit of rhythm, a little bit of confidence and to trust him because he did very good.
"At the same time, it gives Edu (Mendy) the chance to mentally recover in a demanding position, mentally and concentration-wise, so we can have both advantages and that’s why he stays in this game.”
The start is only Kepa's fourth in the Premier League this season having been starved of league action, making four appearances across other cup competitions.
Under Frank Lampard, it appeared as though Kepa's time at Chelsea might just have been over with Mendy carved out as the clear number one, while the Blues were also linked with signing another keeper in the coming summer.
But Tuchel's arrival seems to have given the Spaniard fresh hope and there's no doubt the board would also like to see the 26-year-old goalkeeper regain confidence and form having spent £72m for his services in 2018 and given him a seven-year contract.
