'Kepa Will Not Be Dropped for Mendy at Chelsea' - Ikpeba Expects Tough Times for Senegal Star | Football/Soccer

Nigeria legend Victor Ikpeba believes will probably be an enormous process for goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to displace inform Kepa Arrizabalaga at Chelsea.

WHAT HAPPENED? Despite the Senegal custodian getting back from damage, the 28-year-old Spaniard has been the popular primary keeper below new supervisor Graham Potter.

His performances in latest matches have been nice, particularly within the 2-0 Premier League win towards Aston Villa, when he made a complete of seven saves, together with two beautiful ones, to maintain the Blues within the sport at Villa Park on Sunday.

Chelsea supervisor afterwards praised Kepa's show ending it "world class." The excellent show has additionally caught the eye of 49-year-old Ikpeba, who performed 31 worldwide matches for the Super Eagles and scored seven targets.

WHAT DID IKPEBA SAY? "But that's not the same Kepa happening and you have a new manager," Ikpeba mentioned on Monday Night Football journal present on SuperSport as reported by allnigeriasoccer," adding: "Mendy had his personal dangerous video games, dangerous runs and he is been given the chance - it is slightly bit straight.

"When you have got a goalkeeper that has received the Uefa Champions League, turns into the quantity one of many crew and he is struggling at the start of the season. I've by no means felt that Kepa wasn't a superb keeper.

"Sometimes he wants time to get used to the Premier League and he is proven that he is a proficient keeper. He's proven an enormous mentality. That's a profitable mentality or preventing, having the chance to return again. He now has it, he'll be the quantity at Chelsea.

"There's no way the manager is going to drop him. He's shown all his potential. A lot of money was spent on him."

THE BIGGER PICTURE: The 30-year-old Lion of Teranga's final look for Chelsea got here on September 3 when the Blues defeated West Ham United 2-1 within the league.

In whole, he has managed six appearances this season and managed one clear sheet. Last season, he made 34 top-flight appearances and stored 14 clear sheets. Overall, he has performed 71 matches within the league for Chelsea and stored 31 clear sheets.

WHAT NEXT FOR MENDY? He will hope to get the beginning function when Chelsea, who're presently mendacity within the fourth place with 19 factors, journey to tackle Brentford on Wednesday.