Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola has felt sorry for under-pressure Kepa Arrizabalaga who has dipped in form in recent time.

Kepa’s performance has gone beyond what he expected as he felt “sorry” for the goalkeeper’s situation at Chelsea.

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has lost faith in the goalkeeper to the point that the English manager took to the risk to field injured Mendy against Sevilla in the Champions League.

The gamble paid off as Chelsea bagged their third clean-sheet of the season, with Mendy starting in goal in two of them.

However, Chelsea legend Zola said he was rather stunned by Arrizabalaga’s downfall in the past year.

“I’m very surprised,” he told talkSPORT Breakfast on Wednesday.

“I know he is very young and he came to Chelsea for big money and that is a big burden to carry on your shoulders, and in a way, this is probably affecting him.

“I could understand a little bit of difficulty, but this is going beyond what was expected and it surprised me.

“And I am sorry for the boy because he is a good boy and a good goalkeeper.

“He has to pick himself up and do what he can do and show people he is different because I believe he has got potential.”

With almost five years left on his contract at Chelsea (until 2025), Arrizabalaga still has plenty of time to turn the situation around.

source:- fcnaija