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Chelsea news: These players must decide if Kepa Arrizabalaga plays vs Tottenham - pundit
CHELSEA’s experienced players should have a big say in whether Kepa Arrizabalaga plays against Tottenham on Wednesday.
Chelsea: Sarri discusses whether or not Kepa will play Spurs
That is according to Chelsea supporter, Arsenal hero and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson.
Arrizabalaga has been fined a week’s wages by the Blues after refusing to be substituted against Manchester City on Sunday.
Manager Maurizio Sarri says the matter is now closed but claimed on Tuesday he was not sure if Kepa would start against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
The Italian suggested his players would help him decide, saying at his pre-match press conference: “It will be a decision for the group.”
I think the manager calls a meeting probably and probably asks a few of the senior players what they think
Merson believes Chelsea’s senior stars should be the ones Sarri discusses the matter with.
“I think the manager calls a meeting probably and probably asks a few of the senior players what they think as well,” Merson said.
“In my opinion I think you say ‘what do you think?’.
“There’s no harm in doing that, there’s no harm in having a little bit about you where you can ask certain players what you think and just see what they reckon.
“They might turn round and say ‘you know what, he was disrespectful gaffer, you’ve got to leave him out’.
“He’s a young goalie and he needs to learn as well, he needs to learn.
“You can’t go through the next 20 years or 15 years of his career by doing that because not too many managers would take you on.
“He doesn’t seem that kind of person, I don’t think he meant to do it. I don’t think there was an arrogance, it was just saying ‘I’m alright’.
“I don’t think he understands that we was disrespecting the manager, I don’t think he does.
Chelsea: Maurizio Sarri should DROP Kepa says Ian Darke
“I think he was trying to say ‘I’m telling you that I’m alright’.
“So it’s a hard one but if I was a manager I would ask a couple of the experienced players and just sit them down and go ‘what do you think? What should I do?’.
“If they turn around and say ‘drop him’, then you’ve got the players on your side.
“I think he needs a little bit of guidance at the moment, there’s nothing wrong with that.”