FORMER Chelsea stars Frank Leboeuf and Mario Melchiot fear for Blues keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The Spanish stopper aimed a dig at Frank Lampard last year when talking about the Stamford Bridge icon’s first spell in charge.
Getty – ContributorTwo former Chelsea stars fear Frank Lampard and Kepa Arrizabalaga could be in for an awkward reunion[/caption]
Lampard was sacked in 2021 but has now returned as caretaker boss until the end of the season.
And Melchiot, 46, claimed it will be “hard” for Kepa to be in the same dressing room as Chelsea legend Lampard again.
While Lebouef, 55, said Kepa’s “resentful” comments could come back to haunt him, especially if Lampard ends up getting the job permanently.
Kepa, 28, played in Lampard’s first game back as boss – a 1-0 defeat away at Wolves.
But former centre-back Lebouef told ESPN FC: “Kepa was very resentful towards Lampard when Lampard left and had some bad words, so if they achieve something with Lampard, you don’t know what’s going to happen to Kepa.”
Meanwhile, ex-defender Melchiot said: “Do you know how hard it will be for Kepa to be in the dressing room?
“You had a go at your coach and that coach comes back and now you have to sit with him.
“Oh my God… I don’t know what Kepa is going to do.
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“I want to give advice to any footballer: never talk about your coach in public, always do it directly. You might meet him again.”
Kepa made 33 Premier League appearances in Lampard’s first season as boss.
But the arrival of Edouard Mendy in September 2020 saw Kepa fall below the Senegalese stopper in the pecking order.
And last year, Kepa told Marca: “We came from a not so elaborate game [with Lampard], we didn’t have to take the ball from behind, a less planned game, more to the free expression of the player, back and forth and less control.
“With Tuchel we have returned to control.
“It is true that in the Premier League we were not close to the top two, but in the other tournaments we have been very competitive.”