Tuchel says Kepa and Rudiger’s Chelsea bust-up was ‘serious’… but Chilwell and Zouma still make light of it at Cobham

CHELSEA boss Thomas Tuchel has admitted the training ground bust-up between Antonio Rudiger and Kepa Arrizabalaga was ‘serious’.

But defender Ben Chilwell attempted to make light of the situation today in training when he jokingly punched Kurt Zouma before the pair had a laugh.

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Ben Chilwell jokingly punched team-mate Kurt Zouma[/caption]

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The mood at Chelsea still appears to be quite good despite the Kepa-Rudiger bust-up and the thrashing by West Brom[/caption]

Rudiger and Kepa had to be pulled apart during a fiery Easter Sunday session.

The pair were playing in a small-sided game organised for the players who missed out on Saturday’s 5-2 thrashing by West Brom.

Spanish goalkeeper Kepa reportedly gave Rudiger ‘a few verbals as the match was going on’.

They then collided when going for the ball, and ended up in a shoving match before Tuchel dismissed Rudiger to the changing room.

Tuchel said that the incident was serious but that Rudiger and Kepa would not be punished.

The Blues gaffer said: “We calmed the situation immediately.

“They can happen because everyone is competitive in training.

“They cleared the air and there was nothing left afterwards. They solved it in an honest and humble way.

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Thomas Tuchel has admitted the training ground fight was ‘serious’[/caption]

“For this situation, there will be no punishment.”

Chelsea’s 14-game unbeaten run in all competitions under Tuchel came to an end on Saturday in a 5-2 thrashing at the hands of West Bromwich Albion.

But the German insisted there was no panic heading into the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against FC Porto on Wednesday.

He added: “We got a big slap in the face, and it was required to remind us how tough it is to keep winning.

“I have the feeling we can overcome Porto but it will be tough. They are very experienced, but we are strong enough and believe in ourselves.”

Tuchel confirmed winger Christian Pulisic was in the squad after suffering a hamstring scare against West Brom, while midfielder N’Golo Kante is only fit enough to make the bench.

Reuters

Antonio Rudiger was dismissed to the changing room[/caption]

PA

Kepa was not backing down against burly centre-half Rudiger[/caption]

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