JOIN NOW, EARN 50% OF OUR TOTAL REVENUE MONTHLY

Chelsea’s Italian head coach Maurizio Sarri
gestures from the touchline during the
English League Cup final football match
between Manchester City and Chelsea at
Wembley stadium in north London on
February 24, 2019. (Photo by Glyn KIRK /
AFP) /
Kepa Arrizabalaga’s extraordinary refusal to
be substituted by Maurizio Sarri in
Sunday’s League Cup final heaps the
pressure on the beleaguered Chelsea boss
as he desperately seeks consistency.
The Spaniard twice required treatment late
in extra-time against Manchester City at
Wembley, with the match heading for
penalties, so the Italian boss planned for
his substitution.
Willy Caballero, who saved three penalties
for City in their 2016 League Cup final win,
was readied to go on, but Kepa declined to
leave the pitch — sparking confusion and
angering Sarri.
Even after the bizarre incident, the world’s
most expensive goalkeeper had the chance
to be a hero.
He saved Leroy Sane’s penalty in the
shootout, but could have done better with
Sergio Aguero’s effort that slipped under
his body as Pep Guardiola’s side retained
the trophy with a 4-3 shootout win after a
goalless draw.
Victory at Wembley might have bought
Sarri time, particularly coming so soon
after a 6-0 humbling by the same
opponents in the Premier League.
But instead the 60-year-old Italian, who is
yet to win a trophy in his managerial
career, must prepare his players to host
high-flying Tottenham in the Premier
League on Wednesday, knowing he cannot
afford to slip further behind the top four.
Sarri, Kepa and David Luiz, the closest
player to Kepa throughout the incident,
were “on message” after the match at
Wembley, all insisting it was a
misunderstanding, not insubordination.
“The coach has the power over the group.
He has our respect,” Luiz said. “For me,
there is not a problem here for that. We all
believe in his philosophy, we all believe in
the way he wants us to play.”
But former Chelsea skipper John Terry said
the former Napoli coach was in a difficult
situation, with the incident coming after
weeks of speculation over his future and
concerns over his style of play, dubbed
“Sarri-ball”.
“It leaves Sarri in a tough place,” he told
Sky Sports. “I’m surprised he didn’t force
him to come off.”
Ex-Chelsea striker Chris Sutton described
the scenes as “mutiny at Chelsea”.
“Kepa should be sacked, not Sarri,” he told
BBC radio. “He’s been undermined — it’s
the worst thing that can happen to a
manager.”
Player power
Under International Football Association
Board rules “if a player who is to be
replaced refuses to leave, play continues”
and it is not the first time it has happened.
In the Premier League in April 2017, while
at Swansea, Lukasz Fabianski was injured
in the 81st minute, declined a change in
the 86th minute and conceded three goals
afterwards as a 1-0 lead turned into a 3-1
loss to Tottenham.
Chelsea’s history suggests players hold
significant influence at Stamford Bridge.
The hire-and-fire policy of owner Roman
Abramovich means managers have a
limited shelf life and players have
previously exploited the policy.
This is not the same group as the one that
defied Andre Villas-Boas or masterminded
a Champions League win under Roberto Di
Matteo, when the senior players were said
to be more influential than the interim
manager.
But the incident suggested there could be
a leadership vacuum at Stamford Bridge.
Sarri replaced Antonio Conte in July and
got off to a flying start, with Chelsea
unbeaten for the first 18 competitive
games.
But recent results have included the 6-0
mauling at City, a 4-0 loss at Bournemouth
and a 2-0 defeat by Manchester United in
the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge.
After the Spurs game, Chelsea have a run
of what appear to be winnable fixtures
before away matches against Liverpool and
Manchester United in April.
But the question is whether Sarri still has
authority in the dressing room and whether
he will be given the time to turn things
around.
Source:
guardian.ng/sport/can-sarri-recover-
authority-at-chelsea-after-kepa-incident/