Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is confident that his club will get better next season and close the gap between them against Liverpool and Manchester City in the English Premier League.
Liverpool, which has won the title after 30 years, in 86 points while Chelsea, which suffered a 3-2 loss against West Ham at the Olympic Stadium, has 54, a difference of 28 points, which is a large gap as acknowledged by the Spanish goalkeeper.
With the acquisition of Hakim Ziyech, and Timo Werner and Willian about to renew his contract with the club, Chelsea coach, Frank Lampard is hoping his side can begin to challenge the top two.
Sharing the same ambition, Kepa, who is the most expensive goalkeeper signed by the blues from Athletico Bilbao for £72 million ($92m) two years ago, is hoping that the Blues will be talking in a year as title challengers.
Chelsea had suffered in the transfer market that they had to sell players and couldn’t reinforce their squad due to the transfer ban by UEFA, which expired in January.
While describing the squad as great, Kepa also lauded the manager, who dropped him to the bench at a certain point in the season, saying he is confident that the gap between the top clubs will be close next season.
Meanwhile, the Premier League is yet to decide when it will resume next season after having a three-month coronavirus-enforced break. There have been speculations that the league might resume in September for next season after just a month break.
“We know we need to improve, but it is a hope we all have. There’s a confidence that it is possible.
“We feel strong mentally and very fit physically, and we hope for an end of the season that is great, positive, and can be celebrated.
“There’s a good spirit about how we’ve been playing. And individually, I feel good. I want to help the team achieve its targets.”
Kepa Arrizabalaga lost his place and regained it
Speaking about his time on the bench, Kepa said he wasn’t overly fazed over it. The Spaniard missed four Premier League games in January and February, after being replaced by in the starting XI by Willy Caballero due to a string of unconvincing performances.
He later regained his place during Chelsea’s last game before lockdown and has kept his place since.
Although he is yet to keep a clean sheet since the season resumed, Kepa told Sky Sports News that the manager has the power to choose his best XI.
“Whenever you are left out of the side, you take it in the spirit it is intended. You put it down to experience, fresh experience in your life, and you just keep working hard.
“I’m ambitious, and I’ve always had the attitude that through hard work and training hard, you are ready for the next challenge.”
