Sarri heaps praise on Kepa
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri made it clear after his team's 2-1 win at Fulham on Sunday that Kepa Arrizabalaga is his first-choice goalkeeper.
Sarri had dropped the former Athletic Bilbao shot-stopper for the midweek victory against Tottenham after he had refused to be substituted in the closing stages of last month's Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
However, Sarri restored Kepa to his starting line-up for the trip to Craven Cottage and the goalkeeper responded by producing a fine display, leaving the Blues boss to say the matter is now closed.
The former Napoli head coach said of Kepa: "He played very well. It was a normal decision [to bring him back].
"He paid with the club and the team but now the situation is closed. There wasn't another way but I think that Kepa is a man. He understood and reacted really very well.
"I spoke with him during the week, he understood. His training was really very good and his reaction against Fulham was very good. I know the man, he is very good. He made a mistake, but now that is enough."
Gonzalo Higuain gave Chelsea a 20th-minute lead when he latched on to Cesar Azpilicueta's cross only for Fulham to equalise seven minutes later through Calum Chambers.
However, Jorginho grabbed the winner for Chelsea who are now only two points off a top-four spot.
Sarri's side are 4/5 to finish in the top four this season while they are 3/10 to beat Dynamo Kiev in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie on Thursday. Chelsea can be backed at 7/1 to beat the Ukrainian side 3-0.
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Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri made it clear after his team's 2-1 win at Fulham on Sunday that Kepa Arrizabalaga is his first-choice goalkeeper.
Sarri had dropped the former Athletic Bilbao shot-stopper for the midweek victory against Tottenham after he had refused to be substituted in the closing stages of last month's Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
However, Sarri restored Kepa to his starting line-up for the trip to Craven Cottage and the goalkeeper responded by producing a fine display, leaving the Blues boss to say the matter is now closed.
The former Napoli head coach said of Kepa: "He played very well. It was a normal decision [to bring him back].
"He paid with the club and the team but now the situation is closed. There wasn't another way but I think that Kepa is a man. He understood and reacted really very well.
"I spoke with him during the week, he understood. His training was really very good and his reaction against Fulham was very good. I know the man, he is very good. He made a mistake, but now that is enough."
Gonzalo Higuain gave Chelsea a 20th-minute lead when he latched on to Cesar Azpilicueta's cross only for Fulham to equalise seven minutes later through Calum Chambers.
However, Jorginho grabbed the winner for Chelsea who are now only two points off a top-four spot.
Sarri's side are 4/5 to finish in the top four this season while they are 3/10 to beat Dynamo Kiev in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie on Thursday. Chelsea can be backed at 7/1 to beat the Ukrainian side 3-0.
Source: bet365.com
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