Chelsea vs Tottenham: Kepa Arrizabalaga dropped by Maurizio Sarri after Carabao Cup final incident

The Spaniard was fined a week's wages on Monday and issued an apology for refusing to come off at Wembley

Wednesday 27 February 2019 19:56 GMT

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Maurizio Sarri says Kepa Arrizabalaga incident was a 'big misunderstanding'

Kepa Arrizabalaga has been dropped by Maurizio Sarri for Chelsea's game vs Tottenham at Stamford Bridge following his refusal to be substituted in the Carabao Cup final.

Willy Caballero starts in his place with with Kepa on the bench should he be required.

Kepa remained on the pitch in the closing moments of extra-time, before Manchester City triumphed on penalties, leaving the Italian outraged.

The Blues fined Kepa one week's wages on Monday with the former Athletic Bilbao star issuing an apology.

Kepa missed last week's Europa League win vs Malmo with a hamstring injury, but recovered in time to face City at Wembley Stadium.

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

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1/22Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Kepa Arrizabalaga - 5

Responded to recent criticism with a solid performance, claiming everything in the box and saving when he had to. But when he went down at the end, and Sarri tried to take him off, he put extra pressure on himself to succeed in the shoot-out. And in failing to save Aguero's penalty, his refusal to be substituted will be further scrutinised.

EPA

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Cesar Azpilicueta - 7

A captain’s performance, representing a link with the gritty determination of Chelsea teams of the recent past. Won every tackle and held the line immaculately.

EPA

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Antonio Rudiger - 7

Will have been relieved to be saved by the linesman’s flag when Aguero put the ball in the net in the second half. One or two anxious moments but his physicality in the tackle was essential to Chelsea stopping City’s mobile front line.

PA

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

David Luiz - 6

This is what he can do when he concentrates. Back to his best at the back, he never gave Sergio Aguero an inch, winning everything in the box and showing the big-game leadership he has shown throughout his career. Undermined much of his hard work through a woeful penalty effort.

Action Images via Reuters

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Emerson Palmieri - 7

A marked improvement on Marcos Alonso, defending with solid physicality up against Bernardo Silva, strong in the tackle and rarely caught in behind. Should play more often, based on this evidence.

PA

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

N'Golo Kante - 8

Absolutely everywhere. Caused City problems with his attacking runs, but also with his canny anticipation and endless running. Nearly a complete performance, but when Hazard played him in he lacked the ruthless finish required.

REUTERS

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Jorginho - 6

Given more protection by his team-mates, he looked more assured than he has in the past, cutting out City’s attacks and starting ones for his side. Uncharacterstically took a shot in extra time, but it went wide.

AP

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Ross Barkley - 6

More disciplined than usual in midfield, but helped to stem the flow of City attacks, which is far more than can be said of the Chelsea midfield in recent weeks. Final third precision still lacking, and Chelsea improved when Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaced him.

AP

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Pedro - 5

Quiet all game and then Hazard gave him a great chance in the second half where he ducked the shot and passed instead. Looked like a man lacking confidence in front of goal.

AFP/Getty Images

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Eden Hazard - 8

Not a natural number nine but he ran so hard all afternoon to get in behind City, taking the attack to them single-handedly. Set up golden chances which Kante and Pedro wasted. A performance of bravery, skill and commitment.

Action Images via Reuters

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Willian - 6

Worked hard all afternoon, found it frustrating in the first half but helped to put City under more pressure as the game turned in the second half.

Action Images via Reuters

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Ederson - 6

Faultless in goal and with the ball at his feet. Unlike at Schalke last week, no last-gasp game-changing assist.

REUTERS

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Kyle Walker - 6

Could not be faulted for his running up and down all afternoon, especially when he had to cope with the movement of Hazard. But when City had the ball, he struggled to provide the attacking outlet that they needed .

AP

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Nicolas Otamendi - 7

Recovered from his red card at Schalke on Wednesday with a big performance, including a crucial tackle on Eden Hazard early in the second half.

REUTERS

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Aymeric Laporte - 5

Caught out by one long ball and N'Golo Kante run in the first half, and never looked fully comfortable. Replaced by Vincent Kompany at the break, and City did miss Laporte’s passing from the back.

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Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Oleksandr Zinchenko - 5

Back into the team at left back, he was unpunished for an early foul on Kante but then settled into the job. But there were times when City could have done with a direct threat down that side.

Getty Images

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Kevin De Bruyne - 4

Still not quite looking himself after the long lay-off with knee injuries. Worked hard to show for the ball but the execution is still just a few degrees off, not least with a well-positioned free-kick towards the end.

AFP/Getty Images

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Fernandinho - 7

Given a real battle by Kante in the middle of the pitch, he was shackled by a booking and had to do far more defending in the second half than expected. Eventually succumbed to an injury that could be a big factor in the rest of the season.

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Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

David Silva - 5

Always available, probing, trying to find a way through, but found himself up against a stronger Chelsea defence than he expected. Could never play the killer pass.

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Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Bernardo Silva - 6

Another City player who found it far harder to break through than he might have expected. Always jinking around for space but it was not there. Moved into a central role later on, and as always kept on running until the end.

REUTERS

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Sergio Aguero - 6

Shackled far better than he was when these teams met in the Premier League. Worked hard but kept bumping into Rudiger and Luiz. Denied a second-half goal by a marginal offside call. Kept running until the end but with no reward.

Action Images via Reuters

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Man City

Raheem Sterling - 7

Whether staying wide on the left or cutting inside, he always looked on the brink of something special, but every time he kept being snuffed out. Cut down by a cynical Jorginho foul late on in normal time. Won it for City with an exceptional penalty.

AFP/Getty Images

After twice requiring treatment in the closing stages of extra-time on Sunday, Sarri had made his mind up, only for Kepa to public ignore the substitition with Caballero waiting.

Sarri says he made the call due to fitness concerns, coupled with the Argentine goalkeeper's history with former club City, where he 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.

Sarri insisted the situation had been dealt with on Tuesday: "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.

Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea refuses to be substituted (Getty Images)

"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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