Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri reportedly tore into goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for his mutiny during the Carabao Cup final.
The manager was raging in the dressing room after the Blues’ penalty shootout defeat to Manchester City at Wembley.
Kepa refused to come off, as former City man and penalty specialist Willy Caballero waited to replace him in the final moments of extra-time.
Caballero was the hero in the 2016 final when he saved three Liverpool penalties to give the Citizens the cup.
Spaniard Kepa did keep out Leroy Sane’s spot-kick but should have saved Sergio Aguero’s poor penalty which could have turned the tide in Chelsea’s favour.
Sarri said it was a ‘misunderstanding’ when speaking to the media after the game over whether a cramp-stricken Kepa should have carried on.
But according to The Sun, the Italian gave Kepa a verbal hiding in front of his team-mates in the dressing room.
A Chelsea source revealed: “First he screamed at Kepa by telling him it was the striker’s job to score and that he had the option to change one misfiring forward for another.
“He went on to say that keepers were in the same position — and if he believed another keeper could do a better job he had the right to make the change.”
It is understood Chelsea’s assistant manager Gianfranco Zola also made his feelings known to Kepa.
The 24-year-old has publicly apologised for his conduct in the incident that sparked Sarri to uncharacteristically have a meltdown on the touchline.
Kepa, who arrived in England for £71.6million last summer – a record fee for a goalkeeper – said: “I have thought a lot more about yesterday’s events. Although there was a misunderstanding, on reflection, I made a big mistake with how I handled the situation.
“I wanted to take the time today to apologise fully and in person to the coach, to Willy, my team-mates and to the club. I have done this and now I want to offer the same apology to the fans. I will learn from this episode and will accept any punishment or discipline the club decides is appropriate.”
Sarri has the backing of his players in the dispute but none of them did anything about it at the time and the club have taken the decision to fine the goalkeeper one week’s wages and donate the money to the Chelsea Foundation.
Kepa is expected to keep his place between the sticks for Chelsea’s Premier League match at home to Tottenham on Wednesday night.
Defender David Luiz said: “The coach has the power over the group, he has our respect.
“He’s a great manager, he’s a great person.”