Sarri: Kepa Fiasco Has Made Chelsea Better

By Max Wise

Maurizio Sarri believes Chelsea have had the last laugh in the aftermath of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s histrionics at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City on February 24.

Spanish goalkeeper, Kepa, refused to be substituted when he appeared to be injured in the second half of extra-time, insisting he was fine to continue.

The incident left Sarri furious as he subsequently dropped Kepa for Chelsea’s next game against Tottenham Hotspurs in the Premier League, with the club also fining the Spaniard as a punishment.

Kepa was restored to Chelsea’s starting eleven against Fulham last weekend and put in a man-of-the-match display as the Blues run out 2-1 winners.

Since the Wembley incident, Chelsea have won all three games they have played with some impressive performances, and Sarri believes the fallout from the incident has made the club more united.

"For me, it was really important, the performance in the final against Manchester City, because two weeks before that we lost in Manchester [a 6-0 defeat]," Sarri said.

"But in two weeks the players were able to play at the same level as them, so it was really very important for our confidence, I think.

"I think, in the end, the Kepa situation was a good thing for our group. In the last five matches, we won four and drew against Manchester City. In five matches we conceded only one goal, so now we are improving inconsistency and defensive solidity.

"But we have to be careful because in the past we had a long period of results and then, suddenly, two weeks of a disaster."