CARLO ANCELOTTI claimed he is “very handsome” but not “perfect” as he launched a bizarre defence of Real Madrid goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The Real Madrid boss gave a hilarious verdict on the Chelsea loanee after he made a slip-up in the Champions League clash with Napoli on Tuesday night.
GettyKepa Arrizabalaga made an error in Real Madrid’s Tuesday night Champions League game against Napoli[/caption]
AFPReal Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti was quick to defend the goalkeeper[/caption]
Kepa is standing in for Thibaut Courtois this season after the Belgian was sidelined with a serious knee injury.
He had enjoyed a calamity-free start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu, sitting top of La Liga after eight games as well as their Champions League group.
But Kepa was criticised after flapping at a cross against Napoli on Tuesday night and allowing the Italians to take the lead.
Los Blancos managed to recover and went on to win 3-2, but there were questions over the keeper’s performances after the match.
Boss Ancelotti, however, was quick to defend his player from criticism – bizarrely referencing his own “handsome” looks.
He said: “Kepa suffers in aerial balls but it is normal, he is not two metres tall, no one is perfect.
“I am very handsome and I am not perfect either.”
The 6ft 2in shot-stopper cost the Blues a record-breaking £71.6million in 2018, joining from Athletic Bilbao.
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But some high-profile mistakes saw former boss Frank Lampard sign Edouard Mendy to replace him in 2020.
The battle for Chelsea’s number one spot between the two ended this summer as Mendy left for Saudi Arabia.
However, Kepa soon also found himself departing Stamford Bridge as new No 1 Robert Sanchez joined from Brighton.
And his future remains up in the air beyond this season with Courtois sure to reclaim his starting spot at the Bernabeu.
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