Chelsea vs Tottenham team news: Is this a hint Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to be dropped?
The 24-year-old refused to be substituted in the final moments of Sunday's Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City and was on Monday fined one week's wages
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Your support makes all the difference.One of Kepa Arrizabalaga's Chelsea teammates has appeared to hint the goalkeeper will be dropped for the Premier League clash with Tottenham on Wednesday night.
The 24-year-old refused to be substituted in the final moments of Sunday's Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City and was on Monday fined one week's wages for the incident which angered manager Maurizio Sarri.
The Spaniard has since apologised to his manager and teammates but it appears Sarri may have still decided to take action.
Third-choice goalkeeper Jamie Cumming posted a picture on Twitter of him alongside Willy Caballero along with a celebrating hands emoji in a move that couldn't indicate that he may be backing up the Argentine at Stamford Bridge this evening.
When asked on Tuesday whether Kepa would be dropped Sarri was non-committal.
"He has to (be ready). He made a mistake, a big mistake," he said. "There are some consequences. If the consequence is to play, he has to be ready to play.
"If the consequence is the bench, he has to be ready to go to the bench."
Kepa had missed last Thursday's match with Malmo due to a hamstring problem and twice required treatment in extra-time, leading to Sarri's decision to replace him.
Sarri says he made the call due to fitness concerns, coupled with Caballero's history with City. The former City player saved three penalties in their 2016 League Cup shootout win over Liverpool.
The Blues boss did not entertain the possibility that Caballero's presence may have resulted in a different outcome.
Should Kepa be omitted, with Caballero deputising, it would likely continue a furore which Sarri tried to draw a line under on Tuesday, albeit unsuccessfully.
Sarri added: "After yesterday for me the situation is finished. He is a young player, he made a mistake, but stop.
"I am sure he understood he made a really big mistake. For me it's finished.
"I spoke with the goalkeeper, with Kepa, of course. Then we spoke altogether, because he said sorry to the technical staff, but it was not enough.
"Then he said sorry to his team-mates, to the club. I think he made a big mistake, but we need to be tolerant. We don't want to kill him. So there is a position from the club."
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