Sarri: ‘Chelsea tell me it’s not true’

Maurizio Sarri told Italian media Kepa was penalised for his “attitude” and he’s not worried about the Chelsea sack. “What you write isn’t true – or at least they tell me it’s not true.”

The Coach sent a signal by dropping goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in the 2-0 Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur this evening.

Maurizio Sarri told Italian media Kepa was penalised for his “attitude” and he’s not worried about the Chelsea sack. “What you write isn’t true – or at least they tell me it’s not true.”

The Coach sent a signal by dropping goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in the 2-0 Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur this evening.

It was to penalise the shot-stopper for his public mutiny last week, when he refused to be substituted during the final minutes of the Carabao Cup Final with Manchester City.

“Kepa made a mistake, but it was a total misunderstanding,” Sarri told Sky Sport Italia. “That was at the start of the situation, but the type of attitude he showed was not good anyway.

“He was fined, we decided to leave him out, but we mustn’t kill him: he made a mistake, he paid, that’s all. Will he return to the starting XI? Possibly.

“It’s an important victory, because Tottenham are also involved in the fight for a Champions League spot.

“We had a difficult month, but also an extremely tough fixture list. We’ve been getting back on track for the last two or three games, rediscovered the defensive solidity we’d been missing and that is a big step forward.”

Sarri was asked if he is back to sleeping soundly now that the sack rumours have subsided.

“It takes a lot more than that to stop me sleeping. This afternoon I napped for two hours. I sleep because I am relaxed, I do all that I can, and I cannot do what I cannot do.

“I am relaxed because I talk to the club and what you write isn’t true – or at least they tell me it’s not true.”