Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has praised the reaction of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga after his return to the team for Sunday’s 2-1 win at Fulham.
The Spaniard was dropped for the midweek win over Tottenham over the fall-out from the Carabao Cup Final defeat to Manchester City, with the 24-year-old refusing to be substituted for Willy Caballero with the game headed to a penalty shoot-out.
Sarri restored the goalkeeper to his line-up for the West London derby at Craven Cottage and was full of praise for Kepa following the game.
‘Very well. It was a normal decision [to play him]. Kepa made a big mistake, he paid with the club and the team, and now the situation is closed,’ Sarri told his post-match press conference.
‘Kepa is a man. He understood. His behaviour this week was very good. His reaction today was very good. I know the man. He is very clever, with a very good mentality. He made a mistake on a misunderstanding, but now it’s enough.
‘Also now I know very well Caballero is a very important goalkeeper and a very important man for our group and our dressing room. I have to find space also for him.’