CHELSEA fans took to Twitter to react to Kepa Arrizabalaga’s stunning penalty miss in the Carabao Cup Final.
The Spanish skipper skied the decisive penalty in the Blues’ dramatic defeat to Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday evening.
Kepa Arrizabalaga took Chelsea’s decisive penalty in the Carabao Cup finalCredit: GETTYBut the Spaniard blazed his spotkick over the crossbarCredit: AFP
Kepa, 27, was brought on by Thomas Tuchel for No1 Edouard Mendy in the final minute of extra-time, especially for the shootout.
And viewers across the world couldn’t believe their eyes as Liverpool’s entire XI – including opposite number Caoimhin Kelleher – beat him… leaving the £72million man to take one himself.
But the pressure was too much as Kepa blazed his effort miles over Kelleher’s crossbar to hand Liverpool the trophy.
And footy fans flocked to Twitter in their thousands to mock the miss, with one saying: “FFS, Kepa.
And another said: “Kepa shot for the stars and aimed for the moon.”
One remarked: “Imagine being Kepa, or in fact Mendy. What a nightmare.”
Another stunned viewer said: “No way Tuchel brought on Kepa especially for penalties and he doesn’t save 11 penalties.
“Not a single one. Then to go and absolutely launch the ball way over the bar that is this probably travelling through Earth’s atmosphere.”
Mendy had been in outstanding form for 119 minutes at Wembley making a string of world-class saves before being unceremoniously hooked.
And Blues fans couldn’t help but feel sorry for the Senegalese stopper.
Ball is probably still travelling through Earth’s atmosphere.
Chelsea fan on Kepa’s penalty
One bemused fan asked: “How would you ditch Mendy on this kind of form? Some persons even wanted Kepa to start. Never again!!!”
Another said: “Mendy pulling out a handful of great saves throughout the game to then watch Kepa save zero, and then do that… ridiculous really, what else can you say.”
Tuchel admitted his tactical masterplan backfired as he took the rap for the agonising defeat.
The German said: “I take the decisions when I take the decisions, I only take them when I want to take them. I cannot rejudge my decisions when I know the outcome. This is how it is.
“No blame on him. Blame on me. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it does not work out. This is life as a football coach who does substitutions.
“Sometimes you bring a player on and he scores. Sometimes he makes a decisive mistake. No regrets. If it is necessary to take the blame absolutely it is on me.
“I feel bad for him. But no blame. We took the decision, like we did last time in a shootout because Kepa is training with the outfield players on a daily basis at penalties.
“They know how good he is. He has more time than Edou to do this. Everyone knows how good he is. This plays a part in how well we shot today.
“Unfortunately he could not save any, It was a bit harsh on him to miss the one and only penalty. But there is no blame. The penalties were brilliant.”
Kepa replaced Blues No.1 Edouard Mendy in extra-time with the purpose of saving one of Liverpool’s spot-kicksCredit: REX
