Chelsea were back in action yesterday after a rare couple of weeks break during mid-season.
It was a break that they really needed after an intense schedule over Christmas and into the new year.
Thomas Tuchel lost a number of key players to injury, fatigue, and covid-19, and it was a hard slug for his squad.
The first game back from their break though didn’t really go how they would have wanted it to go, being taken to extra time by League One side Plymouth.
The visitors battled hard at Stamford Bridge and made Chelsea player extra minutes they would not have wanted to play.
Plymouth might have also won the match if it wasn’t for more penalty heroics from goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who saved from the spot in extra time.
Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta was the hero down the other end grabbing Chelsea’s equaliser, and he has been praising his goalkeeper after the game.
“Kepa is brilliant,” said Azpilicueta to the Chelsea website.
“He is a great example to everybody. He has gone through a lot of difficulties at this club, but he has always had a positive attitude.
“He looks at himself, improves for the team, even if it’s not easy to be number two. He always supports Edou. We have a fantastic group of goalkeepers, Edou, Kepa, Marcus, with Hilario the goalkeeping coach. Whoever plays is ready and we saw that again.”
