Didn't intend to disobey coach or his decisions, says Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga

Chelsea's goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga said that he is "upset and sad" for not being able to take the title as Manchester City defeated Chelsea 4-3 on penalties to win the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. 

The match was hit by a controversy surrounding the goalkeeper when he ignored manager Maurizio Sarri's decision to substitute him before the penalty shootout.  

The 24-year-old responded to the issue saying he did not stage a mutiny against coach Sarri. 

He said, "At no time has it been my intention to disobey the coach or any of his decisions," Kepa said on Twitter.

"I regret how the end of the match has been portrayed."

"I think everything has been misunderstood in the heat of the final part of the match. My intention was to express that I was in a good position to continue." 

"I have full respect for the coach and his authority," he added. 

After the match, he told reporters, "I don’t know how it went out, it is not the best image." 

"I have spoken with the boss. I think it was misunderstood.

"I understand that on television, on social media, they’re talking about this but I am here to explain it, to say that it wasn’t my intention to go against the manager. 

"We have spoken now, and I was only trying to say I’m fine. He thought I wasn’t fine. It was in tense moments, with a lot happening

"Of course I did [see my number go up on the digital board]. But because of that, it was until the medics had got back to the bench to explain I was fine, that I could continue. It wasn’t that I was refusing to be substituted, it was a way of trying to tell the bench that I was fine.

"I think it was just misunderstood."

Kepa, the world's most expensive goalkeeper, received treatment for an injury in the closing stages but also has a worse record of saving penalties than former City stopper Willy Caballero, who Sarri was trying to introduce. 

Chelsea went on to lose the shootout with Arrizabalaga beaten by four of Manchester City's spot kicks, including Raheem Sterling's winning shot - but he did pull of an impressive save to deny Leroy Sane.