^ ^ Thomas Tuchel explains decision to drop Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for Kepa Arrizabalaga vs Dinamo Zagreb

Chelsea kick-start their Champions League campaign against Dinamo Zagreb (Picture: Getty)

Thomas Tuchel has explained why Kepa Arrizabalaga starts ahead of Edouard Mendy for Chelsea’s opening Champions League clash with Dinamo Zagreb.

He said: ‘First of all, the most important thing is that Kepa deserves for a long time to play. We have two goalkeepers who compete at the highest level.

‘It’s a new competition so it is maybe a good moment for Edou to take a breather. He was a bit unlucky in the last games, not even bad but unlucky.

‘On top of it, Edou has some problems with the patella tendon. He’s not 100% fit at the moment, so we took a chance.’

Reacting to Tuchel’s decision to change goalkeepers, former England striker Peter Crouch told BT Sport: ‘I think it was coming.

‘Mendy’s made some high-profile errors and was very lucky at the weekend. It’s a chance for Kepa to stake his claim. Let’s see what Kepa can do and it’s proof that Mendy isn’t indispensable.’

More to follow…