21 October 2020
Didier Drogba has joked he is set to join Petr Cech in returning to Chelsea after the legendary goalkeeper was named in the Blues’ Premier League squad on Tuesday.
While Arsenal omitted Mesut Ozil and Tottenham left out Danny Rose, the west London named four goalkeepers in their 25-man squad – including arguably their greatest ever ‘keeper.
And Drogba, another Stamford Bridge legend, jokingly claimed he is on his way to the club’s training ground on social media.
Responding to a Chelsea fan asking him to return, the former striker said: “I’m already on my way to Cobham”.
Cech, 38, retired in 2019 and took up a role as technical and performance adviser at Stamford Bridge but now could be called upon to play.
The Blues’ problems between the sticks have been well documented but Lampard insisted Cech’s inclusion in the squad was simply a precautionary measure due to possible COVID-19 implications.
I’m already on my way to Cobham
— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) October 21, 2020
talkSPORT pundits Trevor Sinclair and Darren Bent said they would pick the veteran over the under-fire Kepa Arrizabalaga, however.
When asked who he’d pick in goal, Sinclair told White and Jordan: “Petr Cech. It’s an easy one. You look at the performances from Kepa and it’s been absolutely terrible.
“The goals he conceded at the weekend against Southampton were abysmal. He showed no bottle at all.
“He should have been going for that with his hands, trying to shield the ball and make sure it doesn’t end up in the back of his net.
Kepa became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper in 2018 when the Blues signed him from Athletic Club for £71.5m.
The Spaniard has done little to justify that price tag, however, and his time at Stamford Bridge has been marred by controversy.
Sinclair said: “For me, coming from an old-school way of thought, you’ve got to respect your manager.
“When he declined to come off in the Carabao Cup final when [Maurizio] Sarri was manager… His performances since then have been poor.
“Edouard Mendy came in last night and made an outstanding save. The way he parried it out into space shows me how intelligent he is as a goalkeeper.
“If he was performing better then there could be a reprieve but for me he’s not showing any of that.”
Source: talkSPORT