Olivier Giroud was delighted for Kepa Arrizabalaga after his impressive return to Chelsea’s starting XI and said the goalkeeper deserved to be named man of the match for his performance in the side’s 2-0 victory over Liverpool.
Kepa lost his place to Willy Caballero at the end of January and had to settle for a place on the substitutes bench for six successive matches ahead of Chelsea’s FA Cup fifth-round clash with Liverpool on Tuesday evening.
Goals from Willian and Ross Barkley either side of half-time booked Chelsea’s spot in the quarter-finals of the competition and consigned Liverpool to their third defeat in four games.
Kepa took his chance with both hands and produced one of of the moments of the tie as he denied Sadio Mane, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi with an incredible triple save in the first half at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea wonderkid Billy Gilmour was named man of the match for his outstanding display in the middle of the park, but Giroud felt Kepa ‘deserved’ the award after getting his team out of trouble on multiple occasions, report the Metro.
“I just told him I was happy for him,” the Chelsea striker told The Athletic.
“He deserved to be man of the match because he saved us a few times.
“There is a fair competition between him and Willy. They are both training very hard.
“His situation was the same as mine — when you get the chance to be competitive and decisive for the team, you have to take it. Everybody needs to stay alert and in their best form.
“He is a tough man but very quiet. He hasn’t said anything [about being dropped]. We can understand his disappointment but you have to respect the manager’s decisions.
“You have to work hard to get back into the team. He has done well against Liverpool and it’s a good answer.”
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