Chelsea lost to Manchester City in the League Cup final. The defeat was marked by the incident of Kepa Arrizabalaga which refused to be replaced by Maurizio Sarri. When the Chelsea duel against Manchester City entered the final minutes of extra time, Sarri signaled a change of player by pointing to Kepa. But Kepa refused the change.
Kepa gave a thumbs-up sign that he was fine and then he moved his hands down as if to say everything was fine. Kepa then looks disappointed and it can be seen from the movement of his hand raised upwards. Substitute goalkeeper Willy Caballero is already on the sidelines. Kepa then had a whisper with David Luiz. Sarri then made the decision to make no changes and Kepa remained in the field.
Kepa did hold back Leroy Sane’s shot in a penalty shootout but the failure of Jorginho and David Luiz made Chelsea lose 3-4 in the duel. After the match ended, Sarri and Kepa immediately made clarification regarding the incident. For Sarri, it was only a misunderstanding.
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said he would not discuss Kepa Arrizabalaga incident which refused to be replaced in the League Cup final against Manchester City and would not give a strong rebuke. Kepa insisted he would not go out when Sarri signaled to pull out ahead of penalties. Kepa emphasizes good conditions in the field.
Sarri finally dropped Willy Caballero. Kepa played until on penalties and finally Chelsea failed to win the League Cup. After the match was over, Sarri stressed the incident was a misunderstanding. He will not discuss this specifically and Kepa will not get reprimand or sanction.
“No, I just have to talk to him to clarify because now I have very well understood the situation.”
“This is just a big misunderstanding. Kepa is right, but he acts and behaves in the wrong way. But mentally, he is right, and he can continue to the shootout,” Sarri was quoted as saying by SkySports.
Sarri mentioned that the misunderstanding could be a big disaster for Chelsea if it was not immediately responded.
“He must understand that misunderstandings can put us in trouble, especially with you [the media]. I just need to explain the situation to Kepa without any other problems,” Sarri said, quoted from SkySports.
Kepa himself admitted that the action could cause misunderstanding in the public eye.
“I know that if you look from the outside, I don’t know how it looks, then that might not be a good picture.”
“I have talked to the boss and I think that is a misunderstanding. I understand television, social media, they talk about it. I am here to explain that I did not intentionally oppose the manager,” Kepa was quoted as saying on the official Chelsea website.
