Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri just dealt with an incident that absolutely perfectly defines the term “insubordination.” In the later stages of today’s marathon Carabao Cup Final, which Chelsea would eventually lose on penalties to Manchester City, Sarri called to sub off goalkeeper Kepa Arrizalabalaga.
However, Kepa flat out refused, creating a major scene as Sarri was totally livid. And how could you not be in that situation? Have a watch of the video below:
https://twitter.com/stangarethbale/status/1099756043004010497
Being undermined in such a public fashion, and on a scale and stage like this, you have to wonder how long the Italian is going to be in the job?
Like the Carabao Cup announcer remarked, “is he walking away from the job?”
That prompted what might just be the wittiest take on this ugly incident below:
https://twitter.com/jamiew_tc/status/1099755732197621760
The altercation ended up overshadowing everything else about the game, and Kepa was unable to save Sergio Aguero’s penalty kick during the shootout. Kepa is being scapegoated for the loss right now, and given his inexplicable behavior it’s hard to feel sorry for him. It will be interesting to see where the Chelsea dressing room stands on this one, and of course, the higher-ups.
Right now, it is Kepa who would deserve to be sacked, not Sarri, but who knows how all this will play out. This we do know- Chelsea are currently in a very chaotic state.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.