CHELSEA.......0 MAN CITY.......0
MAURIZIO SARRI tried his best to dampen the flames on a wild and torturous day at Wembley that threatened to finally leave his Chelsea career up in smoke.
The Blues boss was involved in an extraordinary stand-off with keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga after trying to substitute the Spaniard.
Sarri wanted to haul him off in extra time after his No.1 went down with cramp after a save.
But, incredibly, Kepa ignored his orders to come off – and stayed on as Chelsea were beaten on penalty kicks.
Fuming Sarri slammed a chair on the bench before taking off towards the tunnel – performing a U-turn as he looked set to disappear, perhaps for the last time, to the dressing room.
Yet, the under-fire gaffer insisted he will not discipline Kepa even as calls for the manager to be axed grew louder.
Sarri said: “I misunderstood ANDY DUNN AT WEMBLEY the problem and only realised the situation when the doctor arrived at the bench.
“It was a big misunderstanding because I understood the keeper had cramp and was unable to go to the penalties.
“But it was not cramp and could go to the penalties. I needed to return to be quiet. Kepa understood that I asked for a change for his physical problem and he said, ‘I haven’t a physical problem’ and he was right.
“I realised after when the doctor arrived. I have talked to Kepa but only to clarify because now I understand the situation.
“I’m proud of the players. I am very happy and in the last three matches we are improving and have improved a lot.
“Today showed everyone we could be a solid team because we conceded nothing to the opponents and to Manchester City that is not easy.
“The club would be proud of that performance too because the performance was very good against the best club in Europe.”
The sparks between Kepa and Sarri were the only ones on show at Wembley in a game that ran 120 minutes and featured a miserly total of three shots – one which looked like a mis-hit cross.
Not that Manchester City will care with the first leg of an unlikely tilt at the quadruple now completed thanks to the bottle of Raheem Sterling.
The England ace, against Kepa in front of the Chelsea fans, smashed home the winning penalty with precision and power.
If this match will eventually be remembered mainly for the goalie refusing to come off for Willy Caballero late in extra-time, one thing is worth noting here.
Chelsea could have had Kepa AND Caballero in goal and Sterling’s competition-winning penalty would still not have been kept out.
Yes, it was only a penalty and three other City penalty-takers scored, although he should have been able to throw his cap on Sergio Aguero’s effort.
But the pressure multiplies
AET: CITY WIN 4-3 ON PENS