Hugo Ekitike was not fined for his red card against Southampton despite attracting criticism from Arne Slot, contrary to reports earlier this week.
Slot described Ekitike’s sending off as “needless and stupid” after he picked up two bookings for punching the ball away and then taking his shirt off after scoring the winner on Tuesday.
It was then reported by the Mail‘s Dom King that the Frenchman was likely to be fined two weeks’ wages by the club.
That is false, with Slot asked about potential disciplinary action in his pre-match press conference ahead of a trip to Crystal Palace which Ekitike will now miss.
“If ‘discipline’ means that I spoke to him, then it’s discipline; but I don’t think that is ‘discipline’,” he explained.
“So if discipline means a fine, he didn’t get one.
“It wasn’t very smart what he did, which he recognised himself immediately, straight away. He said sorry straight away to his teammates.
“He’s young, players of all ages do make mistakes and that’s what he did in this situation as well.
“But we all make mistakes and you’re allowed, at this club, to make a mistake without immediately getting fines or these kinds of things.
“He’s a fantastic human being. I think if you talk to all the staff members and you ask them the warmest and most polite people, I think he’s in every staff member’s top three.
“Even if he wasn’t a person like this he was able to make a mistake.
“It wasn’t smart. It didn’t hurt us Tuesday evening, it might hurt us a bit more tomorrow.
“The positive thing is that Federico Chiesa is showing himself at the moment, so it’s also a chance for him now to be on the bench and maybe get minutes with Hugo not being there.”
Isak set to start against Palace
With Ekitike suspended and Chiesa only in line for a place on the bench, Slot has all but confirmed Alexander Isak will again start up front on Saturday.
It will mark his first time making back-to-back starts since joining from Newcastle on deadline day, though his minutes will still be managed after being brought off at the break on Tuesday night.
Broadcasters were left confused at the sight of Isak doing shuttle runs on the pitch at half-time but it is a normal exercise for players to maintain their fitness after either not playing or featuring for 45 minutes or less.
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