Kepa won’t say sorry for defying the boss

KEPA ArrizAbAlAgA last night defended his behaviour after disobeying manager Maurizio Sarri.

The Chelsea goalkeeper refused to be substituted — with Willy Caballero due to replace him — late in extra time after suffering with cramp.

Sarri was infuriated by his player’s apparent defiance but later insisted the issue was a misunderstanding — though the manager did indicate he would reprimand the Spaniard.

Kepa, who had the temerity to wink at the camera at full-time (below), was adamant he did not mean to defy his boss’ instructions. ‘i don’t know how it went out, it is not the best image,’ said the goalkeeper, whom Chelsea signed for £70million last summer. ‘i have spoken with the boss. it was a misunderstanding. i understand that on television, on social media, they’re talking about this but it wasn’t my intention to go against the manager.

‘i was only trying to say i’m fine. He thought i wasn’t fine. i thought the bench felt i couldn’t continue because it was the second time i’d gone to ground.

‘We’d run a lot so (going to ground) was also a way of stopping the match. We’d had a few moments suffering, defending, so it was to stop the match and for the team to draw breath and not a moment where i was saying i couldn’t continue.

‘i saw the board go up but because of that, it was until the medics had got back to the bench to explain i was fine, that i could continue.

‘it wasn’t that i was refusing to be substituted. We’ll speak if we need to talk more on this, but i think it was just misunderstood.

‘i don’t know what to say, other than to say it was not my intention in any moment (to refuse to go off).’

Kepa reiterated his defence on Twitter after the game, adding: ‘ i have full respect for the coach and his authority.’

Sarri tried to play down the incident, saying: ‘i was very angry but it was a big misunderstanding. i understood he had cramp, so i didn’t want the goalkeeper to go to the penalties in that physical condition. i realised the situation after three or four minutes when the doctor arrived on the bench.

‘i wanted Willy Caballero on the pitch, but the goalkeeper wanted to let me know he was in condition to go to the penalties. ‘Kepa was right, but in the wrong way. Wrong in the way he conducted himself, but mentally he was right because he was able to go to the penalties.’

Sarri at least acknowledged he would reprimand Arrizabalaga for his conduct.

‘i will speak to him but as i said before, he was right for his motivation. but not for the conduct,’ said Sarri.

The apparent lack of control Sarri has at the club was reaffirmed last night after suggestions that captain Cesar Azpilicueta had to ask David luiz which end the penalties should be taken after Chelsea won the toss ahead of the shootout.