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  • Maresca coy on goalkeeper decision but ‘absolutely’ rules out recalling Kepa


    I’m not sure if it was a serious suggestion or just someone taking the piss, but it was put to Enzo Maresca in Friday’s press conference if there was any chance we might recall Kepa Arrizabalaga from his loan.

    The head coach may have been coy on other questions about the goalkeeping situation at Chelsea, but he was pretty clear on this one.

    “No. Absolutely not.”

    Good to know that things are not quite so bad just yet that we might consider Kepa the “solution” (even if he is having a decent enough season at Bournemouth).

    But make no mistake, things are far from great right now. With just one win in seven despite facing three of the league’s bottom five during that time, the team’s form has cratered, as the attack has gone cold and the defense has stayed cold. Robert Sánchez’s mistakes — of the directly leading-to-goals kind … or of just the casually destabilizing random-pass-to-the-opposition kind … or maybe just the kicking-it-aimlessly-forward-or-out, kind — have only served to exacerbate our shortcomings, torpedoing the possibly already sinking boat just to make sure.

    Maresca has continued to give his public backing to our anointed man between the sticks, but surely not even he can continue to trot him out there right now in actual good faith.

    “The decision [of who will start], we have two or three days. The good thing is; any decision I take, I feel good because every time Filip has played since we started, he has done well. Filip or Robert, we will see but any decision will be okay.

    “[…] Sometimes it can happen [to take the goalkeeper out of the spotlight]. It is not only in Robert’s case. Already this season, it happened with Alisson, no? He was okay but he was on the bench for some games. The other day, I was reading about Donnarumma that this season with PSG, he was playing always but for some games, Luis Enrique left him out and now he is playing games and doing well. Sometimes, for sure, it can be a solution but it doesn’t mean this is Robert’s case.”

    ‘[From the start of the season] the number one choice was Robert. For sure, if the number one is Robert and then because we have two good goalkeepers, we can make some different decisions. This doesn’t mean that Robert can make a mistake every game and is always going to play. The number one choice was Robert and we will see on Monday.”

    -Enzo Maresca; source: Football.London

    Marcus Bettinelli it is then. Glove up, Betts!

    Wolverhampton Wanderers FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League

    Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images



    Maresca coy on goalkeeper decision but ‘absolutely’ rules out recalling Kepa

    In a recent press conference, manager Maresca remained tight-lipped about who will be starting in goal for the upcoming matches, but made it clear that Kepa Arrizabalaga will not be recalled.

    After a string of impressive performances from the current goalkeeper, speculation has been swirling about whether Kepa could be brought back into the starting lineup. However, Maresca quickly shut down those rumors, stating, “Kepa is a talented player, but we are confident in the goalkeeper we currently have and will not be making any changes in that position.”

    While Maresca did not reveal who will be starting in goal, he did express his confidence in the team as a whole, saying, “We have a strong squad and I trust all of my players to perform at their best. We will make the decision that we believe is best for the team.”

    Fans will have to wait and see who Maresca ultimately chooses to start in goal, but one thing is for certain – Kepa will not be making a return to the lineup anytime soon.

    Tags:

    1. Maresca coy
    2. Goalkeeper decision
    3. Kepa
    4. Maresca rules out recalling Kepa
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    8. La Liga
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    #Maresca #coy #goalkeeper #decision #absolutely #rules #recalling #Kepa

  • India coach coy on picking captain Rohit Sharma

    India coach coy on picking captain Rohit Sharma


    India head coach Gautam Gambhir played it coy when asked if Rohit Sharma, the captain of the test side, would play in the fifth and final test match against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

    Australia lead the series 2-1 after an impressive 184-run victory in the fourth test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but India have the chance to tie the series should they win in Sydney.

    The form of their captain is a worry though as Rohit is averaging just 10.93 in his last nine test matches and only 6.2 in this series. He scored 3 and 9 in Melbourne and was dismissed both times by opposite number Pat Cummins.

    Gambhir, meanwhile, was frosty from the start of his pre-match press conference and said: “The head coach is here, that should be enough,” when asked why Rohit was not also addressing the media.

    India’s captain had also skipped the press conference ahead of the third test in Brisbane but on that occasion Shubman Gill had attended in his place. In Sydney, Gambhir spoke to the media alone which has increased speculation over Rohit’s future with the team.

    “Everything is fine with Rohit,” Gambhir told reporters before adding that “we’re going to have a look at the wicket and finalise it [the team line-up] tomorrow,” when asked if Rohit was going to play.

    Rohit himself is very aware of his down turn in form but feels as though he is not too far away from things clicking back into place. Speaking after the third test in Brisbane he said: “As long as my mind, my body, my feet are moving well, I am pretty happy with how things are panning out for me.

    “Sometimes those numbers can tell you that it’s been a while since he has got big runs. But for a person like me, I think it’s all about how I feel in my mind.”

    Rohit Sharma’s worrying form may mean he misses the Sydney test match (AFP via Getty Images)Rohit Sharma’s worrying form may mean he misses the Sydney test match (AFP via Getty Images)

    Rohit Sharma’s worrying form may mean he misses the Sydney test match (AFP via Getty Images)

    Yet after the defeat in Melbourne the India captain admitted to feeling the mental strain of such an intense series. He said: “As a batter as well, a lot of the things that I am trying to do is not falling in the place that I would want to but mentally, it is disturbing without a doubt.”

    Australia also have doubts of their own with Mitchell Starc facing a late push to see if he can overcome a rib injury from the previous match in Melbourne. The fifth test begins on January 3, 2025 in Sydney



    India’s cricket coach has remained coy on whether Rohit Sharma will be named as the team’s captain for the upcoming matches. Despite speculation and rumors swirling around Sharma taking on the role, the coach has given little indication of what the final decision will be.

    Fans and critics alike are eagerly awaiting the announcement, as Sharma has shown great leadership skills and performance on the field. However, the coach’s silence on the matter has only added to the suspense and anticipation.

    With India’s upcoming matches fast approaching, the question of who will lead the team has become a hot topic of conversation. Will it be Rohit Sharma, or will the coach surprise everyone with a different choice? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

    Tags:

    India cricket team, Rohit Sharma, captain, coach, selection, leadership, Indian cricket, BCCI, cricket news, team India

    #India #coach #coy #picking #captain #Rohit #Sharma