Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was forced to send center-back Antonio Rudiger in five minutes early after he was involved in a heated confrontation with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in training.
None of the players were involved in Saturday’s shock 5-2 defeat to West Bromwich Albion, after which Tuchel challenged his squad to remain calm and focus on bouncing back as soon as possible.
Rudiger was held on the bench for the West Brom game | Alex Grimm / Getty Images
Unfortunately for the boss, he got an unwelcome problem during training on Sunday, as The Telegraph noted that he had to go in to break up a competition between Rudiger and Kepa before deciding that the defender was not in the right mood to continue the session.
The tension is believed to have stemmed from a small-sided match where Kepa took exception to a particularly rough challenge from Rudiger.
The rest of the Chelsea squad went in immediately to pull the two apart, and after talking to both players, Tuchel felt that Kepa was the only one who could complete the session.
Kepa had to complete the session | James Williamson – AMA / Getty Images
Rudiger is perceived to have sought Kepa for training and apologized to him from his own back, and Tuchel was happy to move on from the incident as a result.
It was the second header that Tuchel has had to deal with since the West Brom game. Immediately after the defeat, defenders Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta are believed to have exchanged more than a few words in the locker room. Similarly, the couple met later to discuss the situation and both apologized for their actions.
“We can not lose our heads after 14 games and this can not take away the confidence of the players,” Tuchel urged after the West Brom loss. “It was a moment to be calm and honest (in the locker room) and it will be a tough afternoon and evening for everyone.
“We have to accept the loss together and it is important to deal with it together, and I am part of it. Nothing will change, there was no scheduled group day except for individual players who had traveled a lot, and nothing will change. ”
Tuchel wants his side to remain calm JOHN WALTON / Getty Images
Tuchel is not expected to take further action against any of the above players, but it is hardly the best way to prepare for a quarter-final of the Champions League with Porto on Wednesday.
The Blues will fly out to Seville to remove their tie with the Portuguese side, before returning to the same city for their “home” conflict on April 13.
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