Manchester City celebrated again in the English League Cup after defeating Chelsea 4-3 on penalties at Wembley Stadium after 120 minutes without a goal.
Sarri, aware of his delicate situation and with the 6-0 of the last match, reduced the approach. He relinquished his style, possession and pure ‘nine’ and handed the awards to Eden Hazard instead of a Gonzalo Higuain relegated to the bench who didn’t even take a penalty.
City bottled Chelsea in their field and stabbed the ends without enough depth to do any damage, getting lost in lateral centres, only Aguero caught one to finish over the goal and crashing again and again into Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz, lieutenants of the ‘Blue’ defence.
When Chelsea believed it and bit at the top with the objective of stealing the ball and not having to endure the annoying possession of Guardiola’s men. Kanté and Hazard showed an enormous level and if Pedro hit the arch after one of Hazard’s runs we wouldn’t be talking about the two-time City champion. Kanté is not criticized, end of the statement.
One of the last plays brought controversy and bad karma. A slip of Rudiger caused Aguero to stand in the front and take a shot that was well caught by Kepa, who was touched in the play and Sarri decided to replace him.
Kepa refused to leave, contradicted the Italian and remained on the pitch, to the disbelief of the coach, the public and Willy Caballero. Sarri even pretended to leave the field, moments before the draw gave way to a penalty shoot-out with all the cameras pointing at the Italian and the Spanish keeper.
Kepa stopped one penalty and was close to stopping another, Jorginho gave away the penalty, David Luiz crashed it into the post. And Manchester City champion of the Capital One Cup.