When Graham Potter named Kepa Arrizabalaga in his first Chelsea team on September 14 against Red Bull Salzburg, many wouldn’t have predicted the resurgence that has passed over the last six weeks.
Kepa had only appeared once under Thomas Tuchel this season, his final game in charge against Dinamo Zagreb, after losing his place as the Blues number one following Edouard Mendy’s arrival under Frank Lampard in 2020. However, the Spain international has had a change of fortunes under Potter and has played in every game since his arrival.
Chelsea have conceded four goals in the nine games Kepa has been in goal with five clean sheets recorded. The confidence in the 28-year-old has been evident as the games have passed by and he will have one eye on next month's World Cup squad - where he faces competition from Unai Simon, David De Gea, Robert Sanchez and David Raya.
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Kepa and Chelsea have managed to drag the club back into the Premier League top four with recent results after a mixed-bag start to the season. Potter has managed to get the best of his shot-stopper in such a short period of time after infamous moments under Maurizio Sarri and last season's Carabao Cup heartbreak against Liverpool, putting Kepa's Chelsea career back on track.
And ahead of this weekend's trip to the AMEX Stadium to face Potter's old side, the goalkeeper has revealed the difficulties he had to experience whilst watching Mendy and his teammates take to the pitch week in, week out.
Speaking to Sky Sports (via Football Daily), he said: "It's like life. When I came here I played all the games in the first two years - nearly 100 games in two years. Then for 18 months/two years, I played less.
"It's that moment when you have to believe in yourself and take the good way, keep working in silence. When you're not playing, it's not easy. When you have the opportunity, take it. It's not easy. I had not good moments but it's life, no? You have to keep working.
"I started playing in the last games of Thomas but when he (Potter) came in, I keep playing. I was waiting for this chance because I was working a long time to get this opportunity to step in and show what I have inside. I am really happy because it's confidence and how I am feeling on the pitch with and without the ball. I think it's really positive for the team and for me."
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