SARRI’S BEEN DONE UP LIKE A KEPA
ENGLISH EFL CUP FINAL FALLOUT Mourinho believes Chelsea boss is left in fragile position but PRAISED keeper for showing his personality
JOSE MOURINHO has backed Kepa Arrizabalaga and claimed Maurizio Sarri has been left in a “very fragile” situation.
Ex-Chelsea boss Mourinho praised the keeper for showing “personality” but admitted his rebellion undermined Sarri’s authority as manager.
His verdict came after it emerged Chelsea’s players have backed Sarri over Kepa after a Wembley bust-up that saw him refuse to be subbed.
Kepa is facing a backlash from his team-mates who’ve largely sided with Sarri while they also had sympathy for sub goalie Willy Caballero.
Under-pressure Sarri gave the 24-year-old a dressing-room rollicking after the Carabao Cup Final shootout defeat to Manchester City but publicly backed him and is therefore likely to stick by him as his No.1.
It is understood Kepa will not face internal disciplinary action from the club.
Sarri accused the keeper of openly disobeying him and shouted: “How could you do this?” Antonio Rudiger stepped in to try to calm his gaffer.
But Mourinho, undermined by player power in his second stint as boss, has succeeded in turning up the heat on Sarri.
He said: “The goalkeeper wants to show his personality, his confidence, wants to show he is there and wants to be at the shootout and make saves – and I like that.
“But then I don’t really like that he leaves the manager, the coaches and everyone else in a very fragile situation, also including one of his own team-mates who was ready to enter the pitch.
“Eventually we saw how he (Caballero) was thrown into a mess he wasn’t really part of. It saddens me because it’s a really complicated situation.”
Blues defender David Luiz has backed Sarri in the row in a clear indication the players were upset with the keeper.
Luiz said: “He is a fantastic person so, of course, the players are with him. I wish I had given that (trophy) to Sarri. The coach has the power over the group. He has our respect.”
Sarri has taken the unusual step of ordering the players to stay in a hotel before facing Spurs tomorrow, changing the usual practice of allowing them to sleep at home. RESULTS & FIXTURES
Sky Bet Championship –
Forest 1, Derby 0.
Spanish La Liga –
Sociedad 0. Girona 0, Real
German Bundesliga –
1, Hoffenheim 1.
Turkish League –
Fenerbahce 3. Nottm RB Leipzig Besiktas 3, (7.45 unless stated) Ladbrokes Championship – Dundee Utd v Inverness, Dunfermline v Partick Thistle, Morton v Queen of South, Ross County v Ayr Dumbarton v Raith,
League 1 –
BY JOHN CROSS East Fife v Arbroath, Stranraer v Stenhousemuir
Berwick v Annan, Elgin City v Queen’s Park, Peterhead v Cowdenbeath, Stirling v Clyde.
Cardiff v Everton, Huddersfield v Wolves, Leicester v Brighton, Newcastle v Burnley (8.0). Bristol City v Birmingham, Hull v Millwall, QPR v Leeds, Sheff Wed v Brentford. Shrewsbury v Doncaster.
– League 2 – English Premier League – Sky Bet Championship – League One –
Lincoln v Exeter
League Two – Checkatrade Trophy semi-final
Bury v Portsmouth.