Kepa Opens Up On 2019 Carabao Cup Final Histrionics, Offers Sarri Apology
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has opened up on his 2019 Carabao Cup final histrionics and has offered a heartfelt apology to Maurizio Sarri.
It has been more than two years since Kepa refused to be substituted in second half extra-time against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final when he appeared to be injured, insisting he was fine to continue.
The incident left Sarri, who was Chelsea manager at the time, 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.
Chelsea went on to lose the cup final on penalties, with Kepa saving one spot kick.
"Let’s just deal with that here once and for all," Kepa wrote in the Player's Tribune.
"It was all a big misunderstanding. After making a save, I felt something in my leg and I called for the physio to make sure it was nothing. Above all, though, I wanted to make sure that we as a team could catch our breath.
"Suddenly, I saw that the coach, Maurizio Sarri, had sent Willy Caballero to warm up. He thought I couldn't go on. My intention, right or wrong, had only been to waste time to help the team. I didn’t have any serious problem that was going to keep me from continuing to play.
"I tried to signal that I was OK, that I wasn’t injured. But we were at Wembley in front of more than 80,000 people, so of course Sarri didn’t understand me. When the fourth official raised the board, clearly I should have come off, and I’m sorry I didn’t.
"I was wrong, and I am sorry for everyone who was involved: for Maurizio Sarri, who it seemed like I had undermined in public; for Willy, a team-mate and a great professional; and for all my team-mates and Chelsea fans who had to put up with everything - all the noise that was generated during the game and then in the days after."
