I was Chelsea coach for 2019 Carabao Cup final.. I still remember how Kepa reacted to infamously refusing to be subbed
FORMER Chelsea coach Massimo Nenci has revealed keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga cried in the dressing room after refusing to be substituted during the 2019 Carabao Cup final.
With the Blues and Manchester City locked in a stalemate at Wembley, Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri attempted to replace Kepa with No2 shot-stopper Willy Caballero towards the end of extra-time.
But Kepa, who had gone down with an injury moments earlier, waved away his manager’s instructions and remained on the pitch.
Sarri was fuming with his keeper, but ended up aborting the change as Man City went on to win on penalties.
And Nenci, who was the goalkeeping coach at the time, has given his take on what happened during the bizarre event.
Speaking to The Mail, he said: “The day before, Kepa had a little bit of an injury but it wasn’t that important. Then the day after he played the match.
“At the end of the 90 minutes he was receiving some treatment for the injury, and Antonio Rudiger said to him, ‘wait wait wait, we are in a difficult moment. We need you to stay on.’
“Kepa stayed there with the doctor, who said that his situation was good.
“But in extra-time Maurizio thought we should substitute Kepa with Caballero, because Caballero is a big penalty saver, and against City [his former club] he would have been perfect for us.
“But Kepa didn’t understand that the substitution was for tactical reasons, not because of the injury. Willy is a big, big penalty saver.”
Revealing the aftermath of the controversial moment, Nenci went on to explain just how devastated Kepa was.
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He added: “All the team was angry in the dressing room.
“But first of all, I want to tell you that Kepa is a very, very good guy. And when he recognised his mistake he cried, he cried. He is a very good guy.
“He was saying, ‘I’m sorry mister, I’m sorry. I didn’t understand.'”
Kepa, who was signed by Sarri for £72million in 2018, publicly apologised for his actions after Chelsea’s defeat in the final.
He said: “I have thought a lot more about yesterday’s events.
“Although there was a misunderstanding, on reflection, I made a big mistake with how I handled the situation.
“I will learn from this episode and will accept any punishment or discipline the club decides is appropriate.”
Four years on and Kepa is still at Chelsea, but Sarri lasted just a few months before departing Stamford Bridge.
The Italian coach did finish on a high, winning the Europa League at the end of the campaign.
But he swiftly departed after lifting the trophy as Chelsea brought in Frank Lampard.