DBasia.news – The Spanish goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga, was again sent down as a starter by Maurizio Sarri when Chelsea played against Fulham in the London Derby, week 29 of the Premier League on Sunday (3/3) night Western Indonesian Time. Previously, Sarri punished Kepa and reserved it against Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea won 2-1 via goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Jorginho scaled down by Calum Chambers. Kepa looked great by making two saves from Fulham’s dangerous opportunity. That was the first post-punishment performance of Sarri.
As is well known, Kepa refused to be replaced with Willy Caballero when playing in the League Cup final. The club then gave him a fine and Sarri chose to punish him by parking it in one match.
Sarri could have removed him from the main squad as a study until the end of the 2018-19 season. However, Sarri did not do it to the world’s most expensive goalkeeper. Sarri stressed that the Kepa problem was over.
“I think it’s a normal decision. He made a big mistake. He paid for it with the club and the team,” said Sarri, told Goal.
“Now the situation is over. There is only one other way: to put him out of the squad for the whole season. But, Kepa is a man, understands, and reacts very well today.”
Seeing the former Athletic Club Bilbao keeper apologizing to his teammates, being professional, and admitting his mistakes, Sarri chose not to freeze him from the Chelsea first team.
“I was able to kill him, but I thought that was correct. I have talked to him all this week and he understands it. His attitude throughout the week is very good. His reaction today is very good and I know him very well,” Sarri added.
“He is very intelligent, with a good mentality. He made mistakes and miscommunicated. Now that is enough. I can do it differently. With it, I know him very well and know well that is not the right solution (get rid of the squad).” “But I know very well that (Willy) Caballero is a very good goalkeeper and an important man for our group, our player dressing room, so I have to make room for him,” he concluded.