Thomas Tuchel explains decision to drop Edouard Mendy for Kepa Arrizabalaga for Chelsea’s Champions League opener

Thomas Tuchel has explained why Kepa Arrizabalaga starts ahead of Edouard Mendy for Chelsea’s opening Champions League clash with Dinamo Zagreb.

Chelsea news, exclusives and analysis

Mendy has endured a poor start to the season, making a huge blunder in the Blues’ emphatic defeat to Leeds United and producing another shaky performance against West Ham at the weekend.

Chelsea made Arrizabalaga the most expensive goalkeeper in history when they signed him from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 but he struggled at Stamford Bridge before losing his place in the side.

The Spanish shot-stopper has not featured for Chelsea since March but starts against Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night.

Tuchel said: ‘First of all, the most important thing is that Kepa deserves for a long time to play. We have two goalkeepers who compete at the highest level.

‘It’s a new competition so it is maybe a good moment for Edou to take a breather. He was a bit unlucky in the last games, not even bad but unlucky.

‘On top of it, Edou has some problems with the patella tendon. He’s not 100% fit at the moment, so we took a chance.’

Tuchel has shuffled the pack for Chelsea’s opening Champions League clash, making six changes from Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League win over West Ham.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang makes his debut for the club following a deadline-day move from Barcelona, while fellow summer signing Wesley Fofana makes his first ever Champions League appearance.

Cesar Azpilicueta, Ben Chilwell, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz all start for the Premier League club, with Thiago Silva rested and Marc Cucurella, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic dropping to the bench.

Edouard Mendy has rejected Chelsea's opening offer of a new contract

Mateo Kovacic reveals he