Chelsea qualified for the finals of the Europa League after edging out Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties to book a date with Arsenal but the absence of their manager Maurizio Sarri has caused a stir online which he has addressed.
Maurizio Sarri admitted he was unable to join his players and coaching staff for a motivational huddle before extra-time of their penalty shootout win over Eintracht Frankfurt due to his superstitions.
The Italian coach was superstitious over placing his feet on the field of play and his team and backroom staff were on the pitch when they gathered to rouse themselves in the Europa League semi-final second-leg at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea qualified for the final and will face Arsenal in Baku after a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge took the tie to a penalty shootout after the same result in Germany last week.
Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga saved two penalties and Eden Hazard scored the decisive penalty in what may prove to be his final kick of a ball at Stamford Bridge ahead of a touted summer transfer to Real Madrid.
Sarri, however, remained a bystander while his team, Chelsea gathered ahead of extra-time.
Sarri said: ‘It is because I don’t want to enter on the pitch. A superstition. I don’t need to talk to them. I spoke with assistant Gianfranco Zola so they knew very well what to say.’
Sarri also revealed he could not bear to watch the final two penalty kicks, as Arrizabalaga saved from Goncalo Paciencia and Hazard converted.
The Italian added: ‘I didn’t want to suffer. There is no preparation for penalties because you can kick very well in the training ground and then the pressure is different.
‘You need a great personality. Great character. It’s really useless to try penalties. To be honest I didn’t look at the last two penalties. I didn’t know if Kepa saved very well or not.
In saving the penalties, the Spaniard redeemed himself for the episode at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City when Arrizabalaga refused to be substituted for Willy Caballero and Chelsea subsequently lost the shootout.
Arrizabalaga said: ‘We always prepare for the penalty shooters before each game and today we are lucky.
‘Wembley is in the past and I learned to form it. I said I was sorry but we always keep moving forward and today was another game and we are happy to get to the final.’