By Fatih Erel
ISTANBUL (AA) - Manchester City won the England's Carabao Cup in a penalty shootout on Sunday night after Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga rejected manager Maurizio Sarri's attempt to substitute him during extra time before penalties.
Following Kepa's refusal to be subbed out in the Wembley final before the shootout, Manchester City claimed the Carabao Cup for a second year in a row.
City's Raheem Sterling scored the winning penalty-kick after the 120 minutes ended goalless.
The Spanish keeper was struggling with cramp in extra time when Sarri decided to sub him off and play on goalkeeper Willy Caballero.
"It was misunderstood. In no moment was it my intention to disobey or anything like that with the boss," the goalkeeper Kepa said in Twitter.
"I misunderstood the problem and only realized the situation when the doctor arrived at the bench," Chelsea manager Sarri comfirmed his goalkeeper after the match.
"He understood I asked for a change for his physical problem," Sarri said. "He said: 'I haven't a physical problem.' And he was right."