CHELSEA boss Thomas Tuchel has two world-class keepers on his hands.
Eduoard Mendy had been his first-choice until he departed for Africa Cup of Nations duty last month.
In stepped Kepa Arrizabalaga, arguably the best – and certainly most-expensive – back-up in the world.
Now Mendy is back in the fold as an Afcon champion and Tuchel has a selection headache between the sticks.
His side take on Palmeiras in the final of the Club World Cup on Saturday afternoon.
Should Tuchel trust the man who has been his No 1 so far this year? Arrizabalaga is after all the world’s most expensive keeper.
Or should he throw Mendy back in at the deep end and hope he’s shaken off any hangover from his Afcon celebrations?
The trouble for Tuchel is, there appears to be hardly anything between them.
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When the pair’s stats are analysed side-by-side, it’s difficult to tell them apart.
Mendy has played 13 more games than Arrizabalaga this season, but both have kept the same percentage of clean sheets.
The Senegal stopper has conceded marginally more goals-per-game than his Spanish counterpart so far.
But Arrizabalaga has a better save percentage than his team-mate and can boast a penalty stop to his name.
Tuchel has usually given Arrizabalaga the nod in cup fixtures this season.
But with a trophy on the line, Mendy’s superior win percentage might be just enough to convince the manager to throw him back into action.
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