After the shambles that ensued towards the end of regulation time and into the penalty shootout, it is clear that Chelsea are in a total mess.
Even before that Jorginho proved time and time again that he does not have the speed or strength to survive in the Premier League. His performance would have been much worse if Kante had not performed heroics and actually played like two men. He covered every blade of grass, made up for Jorginho’s ineptness and showed a heart and desire that fully belongs in any Chelsea Hall of Fame.
To add insult to injury, that penalty – the least said the better – but he needs to go and go now – transfer ban or not. Give me Mason Mount, Lewis Baker …indeed anyone but Jorginho.
As for Kepa, his behaviour begs disbelief, by insulting the fans, the players and his manager with his disgraceful behaviour by refusing to leave the field.
I don’t care if you don’t respect the coach, but if you play for Chelsea then you respect the badge. Kepa had an injury and Willy Caballero is a penalty specialist, who played for the opposition – that had to count for something. No wonder Caballero was inconsolable on the bench afterwards.
If Kepa had then gone on to perform heroics in the shootout, then maybe, maybe he gets a pass – but as soon as Sergio Aguero, who was embarrassed to score, let his penalty slide under Kepa’s body, it was all over.
Add to that a coach, who clearly the players do not respect, lost it all two-fold. One for not holding his ground and refusing to allow the game to continue by having the assistant referee stand there and hold up the substitutes board, forcing the referee to walk over the tell Kepa he has to leave the field.
Perhaps Sarri’s biggest mistake was later in the press conference after he dismissed the Kepa incident as a misunderstanding and there will be no consequence for that brazen show of disrespect. It told me all I needed to know about Sarri. No backbone, no control and tomorrow hopefully, no job.
The improved performance of the boys, with Emerson, Antonio Rudiger, Eden Hazard and the indomitable Kante all impressing, has now been lost in the charade of what we now call Chelsea Football Club. It brought an end to a disastrous week for everyone involved in the club.
