Maurizio Sarri has responded to the shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s moment of madness after he refused to come off against Manchester City.
Manchester City were victors when they triumphed Chelsea on penalties after the game ended in a stalemate after extra time. It was a tough pill to spoil for Maurizio Sarri’s side who went toe-to-toe as they kept Pep Guardiola’s side on check by not allowing them to score.
Despite putting in an excellent performance, Maurizio Sarri was absolutely furious with his goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga who refused to come off after suffering a cramp during the second half of the extra time. When the substitution was announced, the Spanish International protested that he would not come off for Willy Cabellero.
Maurizio Sarri insisted that he would leave the ground if Kepa did not come off, but he was forced to stay because of the stubborn nature showed by the goalkeeper to stay on and face the penalty shoot-out.
It was hilarious to watch the incident happen between the player and manager at this level.
Here is the video of that incident during the dying moments of the extra time.
Sarri tried to sub off Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Kepa…but he refused to leave, and Sarri flipped out 😳
(via @SkyFootball) pic.twitter.com/cBWodJDyw3
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 24, 2019
Maurizio Sarri says the Kepa substitution confusion was ‘a big misunderstanding’ because he thought the player had cramp. However he says Kepa was right that he could continue although the way he went about it was wrong. Sarri says he needs to talk to Kepa now. #CHEMCI
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 24, 2019
Here’s Maurizio Sarri on Kepa, defeat on penalties and his side’s performance…#CHEMCI
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 24, 2019
Speaking in the post-match interview, Maurizio Sarri said that there was a misunderstanding between him and Kepa when he tried to take the goalkeeper off.
‘It was a big misunderstanding. I understood he had cramp so I didn’t want the goalkeeper to go to penalties in that physical condition. I only realised the situation after three or four minutes when the doctor came to the bench.
“In the meantime I wanted Caballero on the pitch, and the keeper only wanted me to know he was in condition to go to penalties, so it was a big misunderstanding.”
“Kepa was right, even if the way he conducted himself was wrong. Mentally he was right, he was able to go to penalties, but I only realised everything when the doctor was able to come to the bench, not before. I was really angry.
“I want to talk with him because he needs to understand that with a misunderstanding we can get in trouble, especially with you (the media). So I think I only have to explain the situation to Kepa but without any other problem.” said Sarri.
When he was asked if players were affected by Kepa’s incident in the penalty shootout, he was quick to deny it.
“But, as you know, it is useless. It is easy to kick your penalty in the training ground. Then 24 hours later you have to kick it here with 80k people.”
