Maurizio, can you explain the incident at the end with Kepa refusing to come off the pitch? "We don't like to speak about football! It was a big misunderstanding. I understood that he had cramp, so I didn't want the goalkeeper to go to the penalties in that physical condition. I realised the situation only three or four minutes after when the doctor arrived and came to the bench. In the meantime I wanted Caballero on the pitch. The goalkeeper only wanted to let me know that he was in condition to go to the penalties, so it was only a big misunderstanding. Kepa was right, but in the wrong way I think as the way he perhaps conducted himself was wrong. Mentally he was right as he was able to go to the penalties. I realised everything at the end of the match when the doctor arrived at the bench, not before." Will you be following this up with your player? "I want to talk with him because he needs to understand that for the misunderstanding we can go in trouble, especially with you [the media]. I think I have only to explain the situation to Kepa without any other problems." Did you consider bringing Caballero for the penalty shootout? "I wanted Caballero on the pitch because I was afraid that he had cramp, so with cramp you are not able to go to the penalites. Then the doctor explained to me it wasn't cramp, so he was able." For a player to openly defy a manager and make it look like he isn't really in control, is that a fair assumption? "I think that if the match you can understand very well that the players played exactly the match we prepared yesterday, so I think I am in full control of the situation. Now I'd like to speak about something else about our way of football because our way was a little bit different from other matches." In what respect? "Today we decided not to press very high in situations in which the goalkeeper, the opponent goalkeeper, was involved because they are able to use the goalkeeper and come out our pressing. We decided in every goal kick to wait 20 metres lower. I think that we conceded nothing to the best team in Europe." Does what happened with Kepa affect the players when preparing for a penalty shootout? "No, I don't think so. The only nervous was myself. I saw the players very normal." Had you prepared for a penalty shootout? "Yes of course, but as you know they are useless. It is very easy to kick a penalty in the training ground and then after 20 hours you have to kick a penalty here with 80,000 people and millions on television. It's really different. It's not a question of technical ability, more the mind I think." The owner wasn't here today, what sort of performance do you think he'll have watched on the television? "I don't know if the television worked well! It depends on the television. I don't know where the president is, so the signal could be no good." Were you surprised the linesman flagged so early when Eden Hazard went through? "It was a mistake because if there is VAR you
Sarri press conference: Chelsea boss on Kepa, Man City loss & his future - YouTube |
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