Ian Wright believes Chelsea should replace struggling goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and has expressed concern over ‘nervous as hell’ Kalidou Koulibaly.
Kepa is currently back in the Chelsea squad after former Stamford Bridge No. 1 Edouard Mendy lost his form and subsequently had to have surgery on an injured finger.
However, the Spain international continues to face criticism and appears to be responsible for both Manchester City and Fulham’s winning goals against Chelsea last week.
Kepa became the most expensive goalkeeper in history when he joined Athletic Bilbao for £72 million in 2018, but the 28-year-old has made a big impression for the West London side.
Wright believes Kepa was responsible for Fulham’s winner at Craven Cottage as the shot-stopper initially claimed Andreas Pereira’s cross, but faltered and then ended up in no man’s land when Carlos Vinicius headed the ball into an empty net.
It wasn’t the first time Wright had been disappointed with Kepa’s decision and the former Arsenal and England striker insists it “didn’t work” for him at Stamford Bridge.
‘The keeper [Kepa] He has to stay on the line for the cross or he has to go through everyone to get the ball,” Wright said on his Ringer FC podcast.
“The way the ball came in is a good cross, a tempting cross. But if the keeper is in the right place, it shouldn’t be a problem. Either you stay on your line or you throw it away, he has long enough sat in the air.
“I’m looking at Kepa and I’m sorry man but I can’t. The man makes too many mistakes. He looks very nervous.
“If you look at the goals from Fulham and Man City, I think Kepa should do better.
“We’re looking at a side of Chelsea where, even if they’re playing well, they can’t look at the goalkeeper and think he’s going to help them win a game. I can’t see it.”
Wright also pointed the finger at Koulibaly, who signed Chelsea this summer and who looked “damned nervous” and “very scared” in his first season in the Premier League.
The Senegal international established himself as one of Europe’s best defenders during his successful spell at Napoli, but he was one of many Chelsea players who struggled this season.
Wright added: “How can someone like Koulibaly be so vulnerable? He looks damn nervous and very scared right now.
Chelsea’s defeat to Fulham leaves them 10th in the Premier League ahead of this weekend’s round of play.
Blues boss Graham Potter admitted he was “deeply disappointed” by the team’s recent defeat, but declined to blame Kepa.
“I never like to talk about individuals when we lose,” said Potter, who replaced Champions League winner Thomas Tuchel’s manager at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.
“I think the goal itself was frustrating from our point of view. I didn’t feel like they put too much pressure on us, even though they had that extra man.
“It felt a bit like a soft goal against and we need to get better at that.”
Source: Metro.co
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