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Kepa Arrizabalaga never considered leaving Chelsea and had ‘no problem’ with Frank Lampard

<p>Kepa Arrizabalaga fell out of favour at Chelsea under Frank Lampard</p> (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Kepa Arrizabalaga fell out of favour at Chelsea under Frank Lampard

(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has revealed he never thought about leaving the club over the summer, despite Frank Lampard's move to replace him.

The former Blues manager, who was sacked and replaced by Thomas Tuchel last month, made signing a new goalkeeper a top priority ahead of this season after a string of high-profile errors from Kepa, the world's most-expensive goalkeeper.

Edouard Mendy arrived from Rennes in a £22million deal and was quickly made No1 in west London.

Kepa has insisted that he never had any issue with Lampard over his decisions, accepting that his performances over the last year for Chelsea have been well below the standard expected.

However, despite the efforts to replace and move on Kepa, who was handed a start and kept a clean sheet against Newcastle on Monday, the Spaniard has not considered leaving himself.

“I have never thought about leaving Chelsea," Kepa told Tiempo de Juego.

“In my very good [first] season we won the Europa League, qualified for the Champions League, and I was playing for the national team. The second year we changed coaches.

“With Lampard there had been no problem. I haven’t given my best version [and] it is true that I have not played how I wanted to play.”

While Kepa was given his chance in the win against Newcastle this week, Mendy will be back in goal when the Blues visit Southampton in Saturday's early kick-off.

Asked about his No1 following the win on Monday, Tuchel said: “Edou is the No1. This is clear and was before the game. It stays like this. I’m very happy Kepa continued with a second clean sheet. It was the moment to let him feel the rhythm and build up his confidence. Edou will be in goal from now on. He recovered mentally and physically.”

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