Sarri sends 'message' with Kepa omission

Kepa Arrizabalaga was dropped by Chelsea for its clash with Tottenham and Maurizio Sarri described the decision as a "message".

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri and goalkeeper Willy Caballero

Maurizio Sarri said he wanted to send a message to his squad after dropping Kepa Arrizabalaga from the starting XI for Chelsea's Premier League clash with Tottenham.

Kepa refused to be substituted during Sunday's EFL Cup final defeat to Manchester City, but both the goalkeeper and his coach explained the incident away as a misunderstanding.

Chelsea's record signing was subsequently

fined a week's wages by the club for his conduct and, for the visit of Spurs, has been replaced by Willy Caballero - the man who was ready to come on when Kepa stood his ground at Wembley.

Addressing his selection ahead of kick-off at Stamford Bridge, Sarri was keen to stress that Chelsea is a team and not a collection of individuals.

"It's a choice," he told BT Sport of the decision. "It's a message for my group that we are a group and not 25 players."