Graham Potter sends Kepa & Mendy message over deciding Chelsea’s number one

Chelsea head coach Graham Potter is in ‘no rush’ to select who will be his number one at Stamford Bridge. 

Since the 47-year-old’s arrival last month, only Kepa Arrizabalaga has been fit due to Edouard Mendy picking up a knee tendon injury which has left him sidelined. 

It has seen Kepa play in Potter’s first two games in charge against both RB Salzburg and Crystal Palace.

But Mendy is back fit and available for selection once again after returning to training at Cobham this week ahead of their Champions League clash against AC Milan. 

“Eddie has trained with the team for the last few days so is making progress,” Potter said. “So he will be in the squad which is great news for us because it’s important to have as much competition for places as we can. So it’s great to have him back.”

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy during a training session at The Cobham Training Centre. (Alamy)

With Mendy back available, although Kepa is set to start in west London on Wednesday night, Potter now has a decision to make over who his number one is. 

Under Thomas Tuchel, Mendy was given the nod but all players have been given a clean slate following Potter’s arrival at Chelsea. 

Potter was quizzed over if he was going to make a decision soon over who will be given the number one shirt at Stamford Bridge. His response was coy, insisting he hoped the football would do the talking. 

“If you look at what we’ve got over the next six weeks, it’s an incredible schedule. So I am in no rush to label anybody one or two. 

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“Firstly, I want to help Kepa enjoy his football and play at a really good level, which I think he did against Crystal Palace. Then I want to help Eddie get fit and ready to play, which he has done really well so far.

"Then we have two goalkeepers and in an ideal world, you let football decide. We have two goalkeepers we really believe in and that is a good situation for us.”

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga during the Premier League match at Selhurst Park, London. (Alamy)

Potter is looking forward to the European affair on Wednesday, but has acknowledged that it is a must-win game for Chelsea as they look to give themselves a chance of progressing out of Group E into the knockout stages.

"We are looking forward to the game. It’s a massive challenge for us and an exciting challenge for us.

"It’s one we are looking forward to and we have to be really good to get the result we want.”

He added: “That’s what we’ll try for (a win) and I think everyone will say the same thing. It’s important to win our home game and win if we can. But we are playing against a top opponent and we have to play well and create a good atmosphere to get our supporters behind us. That is our job and, as I said, we’re looking forward to it.”

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