Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has played down his high-profile argument with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga during this afternoon's EFL Cup final at Wembley.
Sarri wanted to swap Kepa with back-up shot-stopper Willy Caballero towards the end of extra time after the Chelsea number one had required two bouts of treatment for what looked like cramp.
However, Kepa refused to be withdrawn despite his number going up, resulting in a stand-off between the pair which the player eventually won - something which left Sarri furious on the sidelines.
The incident raised questions of whether player power is an issue in the dressing room at Chelsea, but Sarri insists that he is no longer angry with the Spaniard despite admitting that Kepa handled it the wrong way.
"It was a big misunderstanding. I understood that he had cramp, so I didn't want the goalkeeper going to penalties in that physical condition. I realised the situation only after three, four minutes when the doctor came to the bench," Sarri told reporters at his post-match press conference.
"In the meantime I wanted Caballero on the pitch, and the goalkeeper wanted only to let me know that he was in condition to go to penalties. It was only a big misunderstanding. Kepa was right, but wrong in the way he conducted himself. Mentally he was right as he was able to go to penalties. I only realised at the end of the match when the doctor came to the bench, not before.
"I was really angry. I want to talk with him because he needs to understand that he can get in trouble, especially with [the media], but I only have to explain the situation to Kepa without any other problem."
Kepa went on to save one penalty in the shootout, but that proved to be in vain as Manchester City emerged victorious following a goalless 120 minutes.
Barney Corkhill
