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Chelsea news: Paul Merson SHOCKED at one player against Man City - not Kepa Arrizabalaga
CHELSEA captain Cesar Azpilicueta should have forced Kepa Arrizabalaga’s substitution against Manchester City on Sunday.
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That is the opinion of former Arsenal star and Chelsea fan Paul Merson.
Arrizabalaga refused to be substituted deep into extra time of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City.
The Spaniard claimed he was fine to carry on despite doubts over his fitness.
Manager Maurizio Sarri fumed at Kepa on the touchline but David Luiz was the only player to speak to the goalkeeper on the pitch.
That was what shocked me more than anything as well, where was Azpilicueta? He’s the captain
Azpilicueta, who has been Chelsea’s captain this season with Gary Cahill out of favour at Stamford Bridge, stayed away.
Merson says the situation would not have happened with him at Arsenal under former manager George Graham.
And he reckons legendary Gunners captain Tony Adams would have done more than Azpilicueta in the same scenario.
“We played with George Graham, that wouldn’t happen in a million years,” Merson said on Sky Sports.
“That tells me there is not a lot of respect there.
“If that was [under] George Graham, you wouldn’t have done it.
“You wouldn’t have done it because you know you’re in major trouble. And Tony Adams would have been over there.
“That was what shocked me more than anything as well, where was Azpilicueta? He’s the captain.
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“Surely ‘what’s going on here?’. I know David Luiz went over and I think he said ‘don’t disrespect the manager’.
“But the captain’s got to come, the captain’s got to come and say ‘come on, you’ve got to go’. Even if they go over to the side or whatever.
“It was cringeworthy in the end. I was watching it and it was cringeworthy.”
Chelsea are back in action on Wednesday when they host London rivals Tottenham.