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Frank Lampard: 'It is down to Kepa Arrizabalaga to prove he can succeed at Chelsea'

Frank Lampard: 'It is down to Kepa Arrizabalaga to prove he can succeed at Chelsea'
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The Blues boss is looking for a goalkeeper who will define his new era at Chelsea.

Frank Lampard has challenged Kepa Arrizabalaga to become the goalkeeper who defines his new era at Chelsea.

The Blues paid a record £72million for a keeper when bringing Kepa to west London from Athletic Bilbao in 2018.

The 25-year-old is yet to convince manager Lampard that he is Chelsea's long-term keeper however, with the Blues running the rule over a number of potential summer recruits.

Crystal Palace v Chelsea – Premier League – Selhurst Park
Frank Lampard, pictured, has laid down the gauntlet for goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (Peter Cziborra/NMC Pool)

Now technical director at Stamford Bridge, Petr Cech excelled in goal during Lampard's trophy-laden playing pomp with the Blues – and the current Chelsea boss wants Kepa to build a similar legacy.

Asked what qualities he wants from his goalkeeper, Lampard said: "I think clearly you want them to be talented to keep balls out of the net; it is old school but it's the first and foremost job in what a goalkeeper should keep closest to their heart.

"The idea of clean sheets, it's not always culpable on them, of course. For a keeper to have a real desire and talent to produce that.

"But in the modern day they are even more involved than ever. To use their feet, to be a personality... all-round ability which you see with the top-level goalkeepers in the world.

"We were fortunate to see at Chelsea that we had ones we can certainly say were part of huge eras for the club.

"That has to be Kepa's desire, to be that person for this club and be a goalkeeper in his own right to say that he's a huge part of a successful team.

"It's not just on Kepa of course, but in his own way that is what he has to believe and work towards."

Callum Hudson-Odoi is yet to start for Chelsea since football's resumption, with the 19-year-old still seeking top sharpness after injury concerns.

Lampard reiterated his desire to see the richly talented England forward fulfil his great potential at Chelsea, however, even amid this summer's squad revamp.

"I've spoken about Callum a lot, he needs to keep training at the highest level, which is actually what I've seen him doing, particularly in the last week or 10 days," said Lampard.

"In the two games he's come on he's had good impacts, in the last two performances, and that's the way he needs to continue.

"He's a young player with great talent, great potential, and I want to see that potential come through."

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLiverpool37313382325096
2Manchester CityMan City37253997356278
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd371712864362863
4Chelsea371961267541363
5Leicester CityLeicester371881167392862
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves371514851381359
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs3716101160461458
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd371412113836254
9Burnley37159134248-654
10Arsenal371314105346753
11Everton371310144353-1049
12Southampton37147164859-1149
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle371111153755-1844
14Crystal Palace37119173049-1942
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham37108194861-1338
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton37814153753-1638
17Aston Villa3797214066-2634
18Watford37810193461-2734
19Bournemouth3787223764-2731
RNorwich CityNorwich3756262670-4421

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