Was Kepa the hero for Chelsea in the Super Cup victory?
Who actually was Chelsea’s hero at Windsor Park?
When it comes to penalty shootouts, it is often the last save or kick that wins the match that is most valued but what about the events prior to that particular save? We will take a brief look at why someone else deserves the praises aside from Kepa Arrizabalaga in Chelsea’s Super Cup victory over Villarreal yesterday.
After 120 minutes of scintillating football that could only produce two goals, one apiece, a penalty shootout was the next requirement to decide the winner. Chelsea FC coach, Thomas Tuchel had opted against throwing in an extra body in the extra time though the rules allowed for a sixth substitute in extra time which Villarreal opted to use early on in the extra time.
Thoughts were that Tuchel would toss in a fresh pair of legs to push his side’s efforts of winning the match without requiring a shootout. And Chelsea with a bad shootout record in the Cup final would have been anxious to avoid a repeat of 2013 and 2019. Emerson was seen warming up for about 5 minutes before fizzling out. No efforts of bringing any other player were seen around the Chelsea bench.
However, with about 5 minutes to play, Kepa was seen having a conversation with the Chelsea coaches and soon got back to his seat to put on his gloves. That was a signal that a change was coming and it was a rather surprising one and people quickly remembered his reactions when his name was called in a Carabao Cup final to be replaced by penalty expert, Willy Caballero.
In that match, the £72 million signing from Spain refused to go out for his senior, Caballero. Maurizio Sarri lost his cool, stormed down the tunnel before reappearing to psych his team up for the shootouts. Chelsea eventually lost that final to Manchester City.
Kepa remained the Blues number one since that incident, his first season at Chelsea. Soon came, Frank Lampard and after trusting Kepa in the role, the Spaniard did not leave up to the £72 million tag he carries and that required reinforcement in Lampard’s second season.
In came Edouard Mendy, a Senegalese keeper who had solid with Rennes in Ligue 1 before swapping the French League for the Premier League. He usurped Kepa as the main man between the sticks for Chelsea as they chased a top-four finish in the league and the Champions League. Kepa meanwhile was a regular in the cup competitions and amassed a total of 14 appearances throughout the season with two being in the league.
Mendy stayed in goal all season in the Champions League and has been the trusted one to go for the big stage including yesterday’s showpiece. His willingness to walk out for Kepa when it was obvious it was going to be a shootout melted the hearts of many, especially for a man who had the privilege to do the same before but messed it up.
He patted Kepa at the back, greeted his coaches and looked satisfied with the coaches decision. He could have stayed on to try to be the hero but he didn’t he knew it was not all about him but the team as he said after the match.
“It’s teamwork, a team effort. When you play for Chelsea, you play for success, for titles. We do that together. I knew since last year that if Kepa comes on the pitch he would help the team. I’m really happy with Kepa”
Chelsea head coach, Thomas Tuchel praised the Senegalese for his show of sportsmanship though he admitted it was something that was planned and spoken about ahead of the match.
“Mendy put his ego aside. He was aware, this is key, that it wasn’t a sudden idea from the manager of the sidelines. It was planned and openly discussed with the goalkeepers,” Tuchel.
He added, “We talked about it with the goalkeepers when we had the first knockout game against Barnsley. Kepa has the best save percentage with penalties, the analysts showed me the data and since then I decided”.
Mendy definitely has played the biggest role for Kepa to stand on the high ground and as we celebrate Kepa for his heroics in denying Mandi and Albiol to gift Chelsea the trophy, Mendy deserves the laurels for letting in Kepa.
By: Clifford Adumbire | myactiveonline.com
