Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has flown into a fit of rage after one of the most bizarre displays of player power witnessed on a football field.
His goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga, battled cramp in the late stages of the League Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on Monday morning.
With the scores locked at 0-0 and penalties fast approaching, Sarri – fighting for his job at Chelsea – called to substitute him with backup Willy Caballero.
That’s when Kepa astonishingly refused to leave the field, leaving Sarri, his assistant Gianfranco Zola and Caballero both baffled and infuriated.
“I haven’t seen anything like this in a long, long time,” one commentator said.
“That’s the definition of player power,” added another.
Sarri almost left the field altogether as he began to walk down the tunnel, only to return. He then needed to be separated from his player by captain César Azpilicueta at the end of extra time.