Chelsea 'should sack Kepa, not Maurizio Sarri' - Chris Sutton reacts to EFL Cup Final farce

AFP/Getty Images
Tom Doyle25 February 2019

Kepa Arrizabalaga should be "sacked" for his extraordinary show of dissent towards coach Maurizio Sarri during Chelsea's EFL Cup Final defeat to Manchester City, according to Chris Sutton.

Kepa undermined Sarri by refusing to be substituted as Chelsea were beaten 4-3 on penalties by City at Wembley on Sunday.

Sarri wanted to replace the apparently injured goalkeeper with Willy Caballero in the closing minutes of extra time at Wembley, but Spaniard Kepa stayed on the field despite his number being shown on the board.

Under-pressure Sarri reacted with fury as as the game ended goalless after 120 minutes.

Kepa redeemed himself slightly by saving a spot-kick from Leroy Sane but with Ederson denying Jorginho and David Luiz hitting a post, City claimed victory and the first leg of a potential quadruple.

Raheem Sterling fired home the winning penalty.

The drama of the closing minutes, which heaped more pressure on the beleaguered Chelsea manager, proved to be the main talking point of what was otherwise a drab encounter.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, former Chelsea striker Sutton said: "Kepa should never play for Chelsea again. that should be his last performance in a Chelsea shirt.

"He's a disgrace. I've never seen anything like it.

In Pictures | Chelsea vs Man City, EFL Cup Final | 24/02/2019

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"If I was Sarri I would walk. You cannot be undermined.

"Why weren't the players dragging Kepa off anyway?

"Kepa should be sacked, not Sarri."

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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