Maurizio
Sarri says Kepa Arrizabalaga has "paid to the team" after he was dropped for
Chelsea's 2-0 win over Tottenham, but insists he is still his No 1
goalkeeper.
Arrizabalaga was left on the bench after his show of dissent to the manager
during Sunday's Carabao Cup final defeat against Manchester City, where he
refused to be subbed off, with Willy Caballero taking his place on
Wednesday.
The Spaniard was fined a week's wages, and now Sarri says he has paid
further for the incident in being left on the bench.
Though he could not say if Arrizabalaga would be back for Sunday's game with
Fulham, Sarri insists the summer signing is still first choice, and will
play one of the next two games, with Dynamo Kiev at Stamford Bridge next
Thursday in the Europa League.
Asked if he is still No 1 at Chelsea, Sarri said: "Of course."
He added: "I think it was the right decision, Kepa made a big mistake, he
paid with the club, and then he had to pay with the team.
"But now I have to think we have to stop, Kepa from tomorrow will be with
us. He is back in the team for the weekend, I don't know in the next match
if he will be on the pitch or not, but one of the next two he will [start].
"When you are young I think you can make mistakes, and the most important
thing is that you need to understand very well after every mistake. For me,
now the best thing is to close it."
Asked if his decision was behind Chelsea's improved performance on
Wednesday, Sarri was adamant it was similar to Sunday's showing at Wembley,
and praised his side's aggression.
"No, I don't think it was [related to dropping Kepa]. The performance in
this match was really very good, but it was in line with the last one. The
result was different, but the kind of performance is similar.
"We hope [it is the turning point], but it is most important to think we
need a consistency in performances, in results, and as you know very well in
this championship it is not easy.
"It is not easy to have consistency of results, but now we need points. It
was really very important tonight. Maybe with this result we could involve
Tottenham in this fight, because the gap is very large, seven points, but we
have to play one match [in hand]."
Pedro's strike and an embarrassing Kieran Trippier own goal gave Chelsea
three points, leaving them firmly in the hunt for the top four.
It has eased the heat on Sarri somewhat, and the Italian revealed he had
spoken to the club several times recently, and does not believe his job was
under as much pressure as the media had suggested.
"I spoke to the club two or three times in the last days, but the problem
wasn't so big as you write. I don't know, maybe it wasn't true, I don't
know, but it's not a big problem for me, because in this job you are under
pressure every week. I think it is normal for every coach."
top