Chelsea fine, consider dropping goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in wake of League Cup final sub refusal

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga had made a big mistake refusing to be substituted last weekend and was considering dropping him for an important midweek clash.

Kepa Arrizabalaga goes down injured but refused to come off.

• Chelsea boss meltdown as keeper refuses sub

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga had made a big mistake refusing to be substituted during the League Cup final but he was young and the club’s intention was not to “kill him”.

Sarri - speaking on the eve of their Premier League clash with third-placed Tottenham Hotspur - reiterated the board’s ruling that Kepa be fined a week’s wages for the episode.

Kepa Arrizabalaga goes down injured but refused to come off.

Kepa, the club’s record $131 million signing from Athletic Bilbao, refused to leave the field to be replaced by Willy Caballero.

Sarri then stormed off down the tunnel in anger before returning - Chelsea eventually lost to City on penalties.

“I spoke with the goalkeeper, with Kepa, of course,” he said.

“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 taller. We don’t want to kill him. So there is a position from the club.

Reserve keeper Willy Caballero and assistant coach Gianfranco Zola are not sure what to do

The young Spanish goalkeeper stayed on defiantly tro trhe very end.

“For me the situation is finished. He is a young player (24), he made a mistake, but stop.”

Sarri, though, would not confirm that Kepa would be between the goalposts against Spurs.

It is a pivotal match not only for Spurs and their battle for the title but for Sarri’s side’s three way tussle with Arsenal and Manchester United for the fourth and final Champions League spot.

“I have to decide, maybe yes, maybe not,” said the 60-year-old Italian.

“It will be a decision for the group. For all the players.”

Sarri denied Kepa’s petulance and refusal to obey his orders reflected a greater malaise that he had lost the dressing-room.

“Did you see the match on Sunday? So you have the answer,” he said.

“After the game is the same. I think better.”