Manchester City Defeats Chelsea on Penalty Kicks to Win Carabao Cup

Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City in 2018
Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City in 2018. Photo by Ryan Browne/BPI/REX/Shutterstock (9569618co)

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City won their second consecutive Carabao Cup title after defeating Chelsea on penalty kicks in Sunday’s final at Wembley Stadium.

The match ended 0-0 after the regulation period of 90 minutes plus 30 minutes of added time in which neither team was able to score a goal, sending the match to penalty kicks.

Chelsea and manager Maurizio Sarri had defended a potent Manchester City attack brilliantly and were surely happy with what had happened until a bizarre scene unfolded.

Sarri attempted to substitute off Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who suffered from cramps two times during the course of the game. He wanted to put in Chelsea’s second keeper, Willy Caballero, who is a speciality in saving penalty kicks and who spent time with Manchester City.

In an unprecedented display, Arrizabalaga openly defined Sarri’s orders and refused to leave the pitch, waving off the substitution. Sarri, furious, stormed off and allowed the Spanish keeper to stay in despite his wishes.

Arrizabalaga and Chelsea ended up losing 4-3 in penalty kicks after Raheem Sterling buried the winner in the last round of penalties, giving Man City the title.

Now, the real question is whether or not Sarri will be fired after losing the final and being undermined by one of his own players.

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