David Luiz has revealed he told Kepa Arrizabalaga to respect Maurizio Sarri’s decision to take him off during Chelsea’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
Goalkeeper Kepa refused to come off when Chelsea head coach Sarri tried to replace him with Willy Caballero after he suffered an injury in extra-time with penalties – which City eventually won 4-3 – looming.
Sarri, incensed by the 24-year-old’s defiance, threatened to leave the field after he, and other members of his staff, failed to get Kepa off.
Luiz, meanwhile, was the only Chelsea player seen speaking to Kepa during the chaos and has cleared up what was said.
The Brazilian centre-back told Sky Sports News: “I just said to him we have to respect the decision of the coach.
“But, I don’t know if the coach wanted to change him because he was feeling pain or it was his [tactical] decision.”
“I think the coach he wished to do the substitution because [he was not sure] of the injury, he didn’t understand that.
“[Kepa] was telling us he was good. He was okay. The game sometimes you don’t have much time to explain things, it’s okay.
Asked why Sarri wanted to replace Kepa, he said: “I was not on the other side, so I don’t know.”