Premier League legend Alan Shearer disagrees with Maurizio Sarri’s claim that his row with Kepa Arrizabalaga was just a ‘misunderstanding’. The Chelsea boss was left furious in the final minutes of their Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City after Kepa refused to be substituted. An apoplectic Sarri threw something in the dugout and almost walked down the tunnel after he tried and failed to bring on Willy Caballero at Wembley.
Sarri later played down the incident, insisting: ‘I understood there was a problem and we needed a change, then I realised the situation only when the doctor arrived to the bench after 4 minutes, so it was a big misunderstanding.’
But, speaking on Match Of The Day, Alan Shearer said: ‘I think it tells the story the way the manager reacted. He went absolutely berserk. I don’t think that’s a misunderstanding. He wants him off for a specific reason and he’s disobeyed him and undermined him.’
Former Chelsea boss Ruud Gullit was left equally unconvinced by Sarri’s explanation, insisting ‘everybody knows what happened’
‘The captain (Cesar Azpilicueta) should have gone up to him and said, “Go off”,’ Gullit told the BBC. ‘This is just a political answer for the newspapers so there is no confusion the next day. Everybody knows what happened. The way he reacted on the touchline says everything.’
Shearer added: ‘When they go to the team talks for the penalties, he only joins his players with 10 seconds to go. He’s practically walking down the tunnel!’
Kepa, for his part, also sought to play down the row, reiterating his manager’s claim that it was a misunderstanding.
The 24-year-old also claimed he had ‘full respect for the coach and his authority’, saying: It wasn’t my intention to go against the manager. I have spoken with the boss. I think it was misunderstood. It wasn’t that I was refusing to be substituted, it was a way of trying to tell the bench that I was fine.’
But Sportsmail columnist Chris Sutton insisted: ‘That should be his last performance in a Chelsea shirt. He’s a disgrace. I’ve never seen anything like it.’