'Kepa deserves to play in League Cup final but I cannot get sentimental about it'

"First of all, I will not tell you!" Thomas Tuchel said at a press conference when asked if Kepa Arrizabalaga or Edouard Mendy would start in the League Cup final on Sunday.

"We will take the decision late. You have a reason to ask the question. The last competition was a short one. Kepa played a huge part in the Club World Cup semi-final to bring us to the final, then we took the decision for Edou coming back from the African Cup of Nations.

"The very last decision we will take after training like always. There is no need to take the decision now when we have one more training.

"Kepa did fantastic in the period where we had to be without Edou, so it’s an uncomfortable and comfortable situation. He absolutely deserves [to play] but I cannot get sentimental about it. I have to do what is the best solution for the team.

"This position is a very sensitive position. If Kepa was a player on the field we would not have these discussions, we would just be full of praise, and we are. It is not a position where you do a lot of changes."

Kepa was impressive for Chelsea when Mendy was at AFCON but Tuchel decided that the Senegalese should start in the Club World Cup final.

The Blues face Liverpool in the League Cup decider on Sunday.