Thomas Tuchel says he still hasn’t decided who will start in goal for Chelsea ahead of the club’s Carabao Cup final with Liverpool.
Chelsea will meet Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday as the two sides go head to head for the trophy, with the west Londoners looking to add the Carabao Cup to the Club World Cup trophy won earlier this month.
Tuchel faces a number of decisions on his starting XI, including who starts the final in goal. Kepa Arrizabalaga has deputised for Edouard Mendy in cup competition this season and has impressed during Chelsea’s route to the final, proving the hero in shootout wins over Aston Villa and Southampton.
Kepa started the Club World Cup semi-final win over Al Hilal, but was replaced for the final following Mendy’s return from international duty at the AFCON.
Tuchel admits he is still to decide on his number one for the Carabao Cup final and says it will be a late decision.
“First of all I will not tell you. I will take the decision late. Kepa played in the Club World Cup semi-final and brought us to the final but then we took the decision to go with Mendy for the final, who was back from the African Cup of Nations,” he said at his pre-match press conference.
“The last decision we will take after training as always. Kepa did fantastic in the period that we had to be without Mendy, so it’s an uncomfortable and very comfortable situation to be in.”
Ben Chilwell was the sole absentee from Chelsea training in recent days with Reece James closing in on a first-team return, though Tuchel refused to confirm whether the right-back was in contention to start the final.
“He looked brilliant in the last two training sessions he still has another session, let’s see if I’m crazy enough to put him on the pitch or my reasoned side to take it step by step.”
