With Sarri reportedly on the verge of being sacked at Chelsea, the pressure was on the Blues in the final of the English League Cup against the Citizens.
Having been thrashed 6-0 by the same opposition this month, the London based outfit put up a spirited display to hold the Premier League champions to a 0-0 stalemate at Wembley but it was out-shadowed by the substitution farce on the brink of the penalty shoot-out.
While Sarri has his say on the ordeal that clearly riled him up on the sidelines, Kepa insists he was not disrespecting the authority of the Italian.
"First of all, I have to say it was misunderstood," he said after the game, as per the club's official website after the 4-3 shoot-out defeat. "In no moment was it my intention to disobey, or anything like that with the boss.
"Just that it was misunderstood, because I had been attended to by the medics twice, and he thought that I wasn't in condition to continue. It was two or three minutes of confusion until the medics got to the bench, and they explained everything well.
"This was nothing to do with the problems I had this week, with [hamstring] it wasn't that. And, well, it was misunderstood. Because he thought I couldn't continue, and - fundamentally - I was trying to say that physically I was fine.
"I know if you see it from outside, I don't know how it went out, it is not the best image. I have spoken with the boss. I think it was misunderstood. I understand that on television, on social media, they're talking about this but I am here to explain it, to say that it wasn't my intention to go against the manager. We have spoken now, and I was only trying to say I'm fine. He thought I wasn't fine.
The most expensive keeper in the world added: "I don't think it has to be the major act of this final. I understand we played a good level against one of the best teams in the world.
"We were close to winning, obviously we're sad that we didn't, and I think the team needs to continue playing like this, because today we've shown we can compete against the best teams. Among the negatives, we have to take the positives."