6 Footballers Who Totally Betrayed Their Manager
2. Kepa Refuses To Be Subbed
With Chelsea and Manchester City in the closing stages of extra-time in a 0 - 0 stalemate 2019 Carabao Cup final that was heading towards a penalty shootout, the Stamford Bridge club's goalkeeper went down with cramp.
Whether Spanish youngster Kepa really did have cramp or was simply playing for time, we'll never know. Either way, then-Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri didn't want to risk having an injured 'keeper in goal for the looming shootout. As such, Sarri moved to substitute Kepa and bring on back-up goalkeeper Willy Caballero - who actually has a strong record of saving penalties.
The baffling betrayal here was the shocking sight of Kepa refusing to be substituted.
But Sarri really, really wanted his starting 'keeper off the pitch to the point he was angrily jumping up and down on the touchline, even briefly heading towards the changing rooms before returning to pitch-side.
Sarri was adamant that he wanted to make this substitution, but Kepa wasn't budging.
It was a bonkers scene for anybody watching, and Kepa's actions made his manager look like an absolute fool - proving to be one of the final nails in the coffin of Maurizio Sarri's eventual departure from Stamford Bridge only a couple of months later.