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Three big questions: Chelsea’s Willy Caballero and swan songs

By Travis Tyler

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 26: Willy Caballero of Chelsea makes a save during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on July 26, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 26: Willy Caballero of Chelsea makes a save during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on July 26, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s Argentinian goalkeeper Willy Caballero (L) saves at the feet of Bayern Munich’s Polish striker Robert Lewandowski (R) during the UEFA Champion’s League round of 16 first leg football match between Chelsea and Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge in London on February 25, 2020. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Willy Caballero will somehow remain at Chelsea for one more season (at least). What questions should be asked in what may be his final year?

When the season began, Willy Caballero surely expected it to be like his previous few at Chelsea. He would get the occasional cup match, but he would understand that he was second choice. Then Kepa Arrizabalaga nose dived (not towards making a save, of course) and Caballero suddenly found himself playing far more than anticipated. He is around for another season of keeper uncertainty, so what questions need to be asked ahead of another year?

1. Will he be second or third choice next season?

As already mentioned, Caballero started the 2019/2020 season under the impression that he would be the second choice keeper. Arrizabalaga handed him a hefty life line and at least twice, Caballero found himself as the number one. Not just the number one on the day, but the legitimate first choice keeper for Chelsea.

In between the times Caballero trumped the Blues’ record signing, he extended his contract for an additional year. He may not be the best keeper, but he has proven his worth to the Blues time and time again when needed.

That being said, Arrizabalaga’s fall from grace has been hard and fast enough that the Blues are looking at a new keeper. Caballero, while seen as the answer for the 19/20 season, is not the answer for the 20/21 season. The real question will be where he sits on the depth chart.

Arrizabalaga will be extremely difficult to move if it comes to it. There could be a sense that any new keeper will be there to challenge the Spanish keeper rather than out right replace him. At least, that will be the tone the club takes publicly. Privately, there will surely be no such qualms.

But given Caballero already pushed Arrizabalaga to the side twice this season, it may not be unlikely that he is also part of that competition. Would it be a bit mad for the record signing to fail to even make the bench? Yes, but it is not as though Arrizabalaga has done much to change that.

It may depend on who exactly it is that comes in (if anyone at all), but Caballero could easily be in the same position next season as he was in 19/20.

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