
David
Luiz has revealed he told Kepa Arrizabalaga to respect Maurizio Sarri's
decision to take him off during Chelsea's Carabao Cup final defeat to
Manchester City.
Goalkeeper Kepa refused to come off when Chelsea head coach Sarri tried to
replace him with Willy Caballero after he suffered an injury in extra-time
with penalties - which City eventually won 4-3 - looming.
Sarri, incensed by the 24-year-old's defiance, threatened to leave the field
after he, and other members of his staff, failed to get Kepa off.
Luiz, meanwhile, was the only Chelsea player seen speaking to Kepa during
the chaos and has cleared up what was said.
The Brazilian centre-back told Sky Sports News: "I just said to him we have
to respect the decision of the coach.
"But, I don't know if the coach wanted to change him because he was feeling
pain or it was his [tactical] decision."
"I think the coach he wished to do the substitution because [he was not
sure] of the injury, he didn't understand that.
"[Kepa] was telling us he was good. He was okay. The game sometimes you
don't have much time to explain things, it's okay.
Asked why Sarri wanted to replace Kepa, he said: "I was not on the other
side, so I don't know."