More than two years after the legendary scene in the English League Cup final between Chelsea FC and Manchester City, Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has apologized for his refusal to leave the pitch at the time. The Spaniard now explained in detail how the situation at that time had come about.
“Let’s get it straight once and for all,” said the Spaniard: “It was all a big misunderstanding.” in the Player’s Tribune Kepa reports what actually happened from his point of view. “After a parade, I felt something in my leg and called the physios to make sure that it was nothing. It was also about the fact that we as a team could breathe,” he looks at the scene shortly before the end of extra time in the final 2019 back.
“All of a sudden I saw our coach Maurizio Sarri send Willy Caballero to warm up. He thought I couldn’t go on. But my intention was, right or wrong, to buy some time to help the team. But I didn’t really have a problem that would have kept me from playing, “explains the 26-year-old.
When the signal came for a substitution, Kepa stubbornly refused to leave the seat, driving Sarri to white heat. The Italian was terribly upset on the sidelines. “I wanted to signal that I was okay. But we were in front of 80,000 people at Wembley, so of course Sarri didn’t understand me.
When the fourth official held up the scoreboard, of course I should have gone down. I’m sorry I didn’t do it, “he chooses conciliatory words. Caballero was also considered a penalty killer at the time, but the Argentine was unable to show these qualities.
After a penalty shoot-out at Chelsea vs. ManCity: Rüdiger has to mediate between Sarri and Kepa
In the subsequent penalty shootout, Kepa only parried Leroy Sane’s penalty, which was not enough to claim the title with two misses on Chelsea’s side. Then Sarri almost attacked Kepa, Antonio Rüdiger had to intervene. The internet then went crazy with memes about Kepa.
“It was wrong of me and I’m sorry for everyone involved: for Maurizio Sarri, for whom it looked like I had undermined his authority; for Willy Caballero, a team-mate and a full professional; and for all of my team-mates and the Chelsea fans who had to endure the noise on the pitch and in the days after, “said Arrizabalaga. The Spaniard, once the most expensive goalkeeper in the world, is only second choice under Thomas Tuchel.
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