Lampard impressed with Kepa Arrizabalaga’s response
Speaking ahead of the Manchester United game, Lampard said that he did not necessarily axe Arrizabalaga from the goalkeeping role and he wanted to try out something different at the King Power Stadium. He added that he has been impressed with the attitude of Arrizabalaga in training during the winter break and hinted that the Spaniard could start between the sticks on Monday.
He told: “I think I spoke around the Leicester game, and have to pick it as I see it. It was just a selection on the day. Obviously there’s a bit more to it with goalkeepers, but I want everyone’s reaction all the time to be spot-on. Every player has it. I had it in my career many a time. You have to show character in those little moments. And I’ve been pleased with his reaction. The reaction has been good as I’d expect. He’s been training hard and has had his head down. So there’s a decision for me to make.”
The Blues are currently on a three-match winless run and they have accumulated just four points from the previous five matches. Despite this, they continue to hold onto the fourth spot by the slenderest of margins and have recently been boosted by the fact that the fifth position could guarantee them with Champions League football as well.
With Manchester City’s two-year European competition ban, the Blues have been offered with a better chance of qualifying for the elite competition but they must find ways of winning again with sixth-placed Tottenham Hotspur only four points behind them. The Blues have a tough schedule after the winter break with successive home games against Manchester United and Spurs.