Jack Grealish questioned Kepa Arrizabalaga’s participation in the goal that sealed Manchester City’s victory over Chelsea yesterday.
Grealish spoke to Sky Sports after his teammates secured the 1-0 Premier League victory and pondered why Kepa didn’t do more to prevent the match winning moment.
The Spaniard was in between the sticks again at Stamford Bridge, as he continues to stake a claim for the number one spot.
He didn’t aid his cause very well last night after feebly attempting to halt City from taking the lead.
Jack Grealish makes confession about Chelsea
Pep Guardiola’s side snatched the three points thanks to a Riyad Mahrez tap-in just shy of the hour mark.
Mahrez’s task was made easier by Grealish’s accurate cut back, but also by the fact Kepa seemingly pulled his arm away instead of blocking the cross.
“It was weird, because I was just speaking to Riyad, he said to me he thought the ‘keeper was going to get it at one point, and so did I,” admitted Grealish in his post-match interview.
“I felt like the ‘keeper was going to get it at one point. When it went across the goal, the first time I’ve looked up I thought: ‘I’ve played it too close to him’.”
Thankfully for the England international, Kepa decided to allow the delivery to fly past him, rather than diverting it to safety.
City scored because of this and were eventually able to wrap up the win in South West London.
Kepa slips up
Not long after going behind, Chelsea’s ‘keeper repeated a similar action of simply letting a cross whiz across the area unchallenged.
Guardiola’s men did not capitalise on this instance, but it was another warning that the hosts were walking on a tightrope.
Graham Potter’s team were wobbled from the very beginning of the contest, thanks to Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic’s early injuries.
But Potter should be proud of those who stepped in and stepped up in the face of the reigning league champions.
Carney Chukwuemeka was excellent, whilst Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson made a strong case for further future appearances.
They could well play again when Chelsea face City for a second time in just a few days.
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