Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri says his squad is complete following the arrival Kepa Arrizabalaga and Mateo Kovacic this summer.
Arrizabalaga joined the Blues from Athletic Bilbao Wednesday night for or £71m a world record fee for a goalkeeper while Kovacic is on a season loan deal from Real Madrid.
“I am very happy for both. Because Courtois’ situation was clear. He wanted to go to Madrid so we lost maybe one of the most important gk in the world,”Sarri said during his pre-match interview ahead of his first official game against Huddersfield Town in the English Premier League on Saturday.
“We bought a younger goalkeeper, one of the most important young goalkeepers in the world.”
“Kovacic has the characteristics for us and now I think the squad is complete.”
“Not at the moment for sure, but he is very young. He is 23. I hope he can improve very fast. But for the moment he is not Courtois, of course.”
“Kovacic is a very technical player, play between the lines of the opponent and I think for us it could be very important.”
Sarri also played down Thibaut Courtois’s behaviour forcing a move away from the club before the transfer window closed and the impact it may have on Eden Hazard his Belgian teammate.
“I don’t know. I think there were some personal reasons, so I cannot go on personal reasons. Hazard is with us. It is not a problem, I have spoken with him three or four times. He never said anything about the market. He is happy to stay here.”
He also refused to divulge if Arrizabalaga will start on Saturday and who will captain the team this season.
“I don’t know. He is in the players’ list, and then I have to decide.”
“For tomorrow Azpilicueta, but it is not the final decision. I want to know the players and the man and when my idea is clear I will make the decision.”
On possible players exits from the club and contract extensions, Sarri noted that it was up to the club to decide as his job was to improve them.
“No I don’t want to discuss contracts. It is not my job. It is to improve players, not sign contracts. I have seen a player happy to be here.
“It is impossible. The market is closed for us. Now I think the squad is too large. So I think some players have to go on loan. But I don’t know who at the moment. I prefer to have 23 or 24 players. Maybe (Bakayoko) you have to ask the club in that moment.”
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