Football is a team game and it means a team can rally round a player when they are having a bad run of form, and the coach can adapt their tactics to allow someone to build up their confidence again.
The problem for goalkeepers is that this isn’t possible for them. Opposing teams will take more shots and pile even more pressure on them, and they have to play in the knowledge that any mistake will probably lead to a goal.
It’s probably harsh to completely write Kepa off, but his current situation at Chelsea is making it almost impossible for him, so a transfer might be his only option soon.
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The pundits in Sky’s coverage were quick to pile on , as Jamie Carragher stated that “a lot of people don’t rate him” while Gary Neville insisted that he should’ve saved the shot that led to the Crystal Palace goal.
It’s not just the pundits who don’t rate him, as these fans have also taken to Twitter to confirm that they want him to leave:
Kepa get out my club now. What a waste of 70 odd million.
— CB. (@ChristianWest14) July 7, 2020
Can’t believe am saying this but phil jones is a better defender than @ToniRuediger
Also @kepa_46 get out of my club!!!@morriskid Tell Lampard to wake that defence up. Wth was that!
Rubbish defending from @ChelseaFC. I really don’t deserve this from you??#WHUCHE
— Charles Omondi Oyeng (@OmondiOyeng) July 1, 2020
Sell kepa please @ChelseaFC
— Peno (@Penotheee) July 7, 2020
Big Willy > Kepa. Only reason Kepa is a regular is because of the money spent on him. We need to cut our losses, and loan or sell him cos we won’t challenge for the title with him
— II (@OIIIIIIIIx) July 7, 2020
Sell kepa now!!!!!#CTYCHE https://t.co/7FpRqYHRWJ
— Uwadia Victor ? (@_victorebube_) July 7, 2020
sell Kepa! you cannot win the league with a clown
— Tiwo Werner (@bowgung) July 7, 2020
It’s a shame for Kepa and it’s the perfect example of how a keeper just needs to leave once they lose the confidence of the fans and the coach.
It’s probably a case of damage limitation from Chelsea’s point of view as they try to protect his transfer value, so it might be best to drop him for the final games of the season.