Monday 25 February 2019 11:40, UK
Willy Caballero would have given Chelsea a psychological edge in the penalty shootout against Manchester City, says Mario Melchiot.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri appeared to be overruled by his own goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga during a remarkable and bizarre finish to their Carabao Cup final defeat on Sunday.
With the game goalless and deep into extra-time, the Spaniard seemed to be struggling with cramp and Sarri readied substitute 'keeper Caballero to come on for the approaching penalty shootout, but Kepa refused to come off the pitch.
Ex-Blues defender Melchiot says he had "no sympathy" for Kepa and insists Caballero, who signed for Chelsea from City in 2017, would have given Chelsea a better chance of lifting the trophy.
"For me, this is a really weird situation," Melchiot, who won an FA Cup with Chelsea, told Sky Sports News.
"If you have a goalkeeper who knows the opponent, knows how to maybe stop the penalties, then you want him on because then, psychologically, you're already 1-0 ahead in the penalty shootout.
"Okay, Kepa saved (Leroy Sane's) penalty but I still agree that he should have come off. The manager is in charge. The moment when he said 'I don't want to come off' - there is no sympathy.
"Luiz went up to him and told him to go off. When one of your team-mates is also telling you that, you're almost dictating and it doesn't put Sarri in a good position."
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was equally unimpressed with Kepa's actions on Sunday.
"It was out of order," he said. "You should never, ever do that. You should never question the manager, no matter what the situation was. I think he's going to be in hot water.
"He wasn't being directly disrespectful to Willy Caballero. I'm sure that didn't even cross his mind when he did that.
"He's got to worry about his manager rather than the other players because he's going to be in a lot of trouble, and rightly so.
"You can't do that in a game of football, let alone when the whole world is watching you."
