Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel says a penalty shootout sub-call was planned months before Kepa Arrizabalaga | football news

[ad_1]

Thomas Tuchel said the decision to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga before the penalty shootout was made months ago as the Spanish coach’s trophies helped Chelsea win the Super Cup.

Kepa replaced Chelsea No. 1 Edward Mendy just a minute before extra time against Villarreal in Belfast, with the score at 1-1, before saving two penalties to help the Blues win on penalties 6-5.

Mendy’s body language upon being substituted suggested the move was planned, and Tuchel said after the match that the decision was first made before Chelsea’s FA Cup clash with Barnsley in February, the first German Cup match he takes charge of the club.

Tuchel was full of praise for both goalkeepers, as the European champion made a successful start to the competition.

Photo: Arrizabalaga celebrates with his teammates after the victory

“It was not spontaneous,” Tuchel told BT Sport. “We talked about it with the goalkeepers when we came and played our first cup match against Barnsley.

“So we had some stats, and we were well prepared, that Kepa is the best in percentage in terms of saving penalty kicks.

“The analysis and the goalkeeper coaches, they gave me the data and then we talked to the players, showed me that this can happen when we play a knockout match, and from then on they know.

“It’s great how Eddie takes it. It’s great how that conversation went before the cup match at Barnsley. Since then they’ve known.

“Of course we needed to do what was good for the team. It was necessary. I’m glad he worked.

“There is evidence that Kepa is better in this discipline. These guys are real team players. I am happy for Kepa and happy for Eddie, to have a goalkeeper like this, to not show pride in not going off the field, and he is so happy to do it for The team, to take one for the team. It’s the best.”

Photo: Tuchel says the operation was planned when he first arrived at the club earlier this year

Kepa also told BT Sport after the match: “It’s not a typical situation. Finally we won, and we are very happy. I think all the team did a great job, we got the medal.

“This is not a normal situation. But I was prepared because I knew this could happen. I try to be mentally and physically ready.”

And Mendy added: “Of course I’m happy, because we won. We’re working for that, for success, and I know since last year, if Kepa comes on the pitch, he’ll help the team, he did today, and I’m really happy with Kepa.”

“It’s team work, it’s a team effort. When you play for Chelsea, you play for success and titles. We did it together, and we’re happy.”

“Mentally good, physically worse”

Chelsea had made a deserved lead in the 27th minute thanks to Hakim Ziyech, but Villarreal improved from there and scored the equalizer through Gerard Moreno in the 73rd minute.

Tuchel admits Chelsea were incomplete, but they deserved to win on the whole.

“It was tough, 120 minutes, because there was nothing or more,” he said. “We were very strong in the first 30, 35 minutes and then we lost a few easy balls after our goal.

“In the second half we were very passive, they equalized a lot of losses on the ball, and they deserved it well, right after we conceded the goal, we were very strong again.

“We invested more than 120 minutes, and we deserved to win.”

Tuchel’s side began their Premier League season at home to Crystal Palace at 3pm on Saturday, and Tuchel said 120 minutes was not an ideal preparation.

“mentally [tonight was] Good idea, physically the worst thing that could happen to play on a Saturday afternoon. Victory helps us regenerate and we have to be careful now.”

Photo: Hakim Ziyech left the field injured during the first half of the match

One of Chelsea’s negative results was a troubling shoulder injury to top scorer Ziyech, who went out in the first half and appeared on the sidelines in the second half with his arm in a sling.

“If you go out in the first half, it’s dangerous. Unfortunately, because he was a very crucial player for us in the last games.”

Analysis: Tuchel gets it right again

Adam Batty from Sky Sports: “It wasn’t easy for Chelsea and if Villarreal went that far there would have been a few complaints. After a solid start, the Champions League winners found it difficult. But Tuchel’s amazing start at Stamford Bridge continues. On the big call correctly.

“There was some bewilderment when Kepa came in, and the accepted wisdom is that Mendy is the better goalkeeper and therefore would be in a better position to save penalty shootouts as well. But Tuchel doesn’t offer the accepted wisdom, he has logic and analysis.

“The data told him that Kepa was more likely to save penalties than Mendy. He went with him knowing that while there could have been criticism had she not gone down Chelsea’s way, there was a way behind it. The lesson from his time in England was that Tuchel’s tactics Working “.

What then?

It’s a quick turnaround for Chelsea. The Premier League season begins against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Saturday at 3pm.

[ad_2]