THomas Tuchel and Jrgen Klopp managed their goalkeepers differently in the Carabao Cup final. The Chelsea coach placed Douard Mendy, the starting goalkeeper in the Premier and the Champions League, under the sticks at Wembley, relegating a Kepa who came out to the bench at the end of extra time to dispute the penalty shootout without success. And the Liverpool coach chose to keep Caoimhn Kelleher (Cork, Republic of Ireland, 1998).
“Even in professional football there should be room for feelings. Caoimhn is a young boy, he has played in the entire tournament, what should he do? I am two things: a professional coach and a human being. And the human won! he deserves it”confesses Klopp after win the first Carabao Cup since 2012 thanks, in large measure, to the hands and feet of his substitute goalkeeper.
“It’s crazy. I got close to a few shots, put up a few hands… but I didn’t even think I had scored the winning penalty. I forgot! All of the teammates’ maximum penalties were high class, so I’m happy to score. It was a shot of hope”, said Kelleher with the Cup in his hand in ‘Sky Sports’. After a match in which he made meritorious saves on Pulisic and Lukaku, the goalkeeper scored the penalty in the shootout that led the team to glory Liverpool after Kepa’s ruling.
I got close to a few shots, put up a few hands… but I didn’t even think I had scored the winning penalty. I forgot! I’m happy to score. It was a shot of hope”
An award for a goalkeeper in the shadow of Alisson at Anfield who throughout the Carabao Cup he had left his goal to zero against Norwich (0-3), Preston (0-2), the round trip of the ‘semis’ against Arsenal (0-0 and 0-2) and the final against Chelsea (0-0). He only conceded three goals in Leicester, in the quarters (3-3)… but he was decisive on penalties, stopping Bertrand and Thomas.
He made two incredible saves and then, in the shootout, he not only showed his full range of skills even shooting. He is absolutely crazy!
“I’ve only known him for four years? He’s come a long way from when I first saw him as a boy to the man he is today. Ever since I met him, I’ve known he has incredible talent. John Achterberg and Jack Robinson (goalkeeping coaches) know how a team works and that the goalkeepers are often separated from the rest, that the coach is not there all the time. But they have done an incredible development job. Alisson is the best goalkeeper but, for me, Caoimhn is the best number two in the world, especially because of the way we play. He made two incredible saves and then, in the shootout, he not only showed the full range of his abilities…even shooting. He is absolutely insane!” Klopp joked.
“Jrgen, after the final, he just told me: ‘well done for scoring the winning penalty. There is a mural with all the goalkeepers who have won Cups, so now you can be there”, confessed Kelleher. At Liverpool’s AXA Training Center in Kirby, Achterberg commissioned local artist John Culshaw to I would illustrate the wall behind the goal where the goalkeepers train every day with the images of the goalkeepers who have won a title in red history. “There are great legends, so being there would be an honor for me. They are a great inspiration,” confessed Kelleher in the ‘Guardian’ before winning the Carabao Cup.
Now, the Irish goalkeeper has his place alongside Alisson, Dudek, Reina, Grobbelaar, Clemence… He has completed a meteoric career since Klopp gave him the alternative in 2019 in the third round of the Carabao Cup against MK Dons (2 -0). So, the German already described his qualities: “He is a wonderful boy and a sensational talent. He has a bright future. He is growing little by little, not only muscularly (Liverpool reinforced his work in the gym). He is very good with his feet and he is a very calm person, which helps him as a goalkeeper.”.
Kelleher’s Metamorphosis
A skill with his legs that he cultivated in his childhood in Cork, when he was a striker for Ringmahon Rangers while three of his brothers played hurling. “I tried a little, but football was my thing,” a Kelleher, who ended up in goal at the age of 14 when his usual goal left the team, told the ‘Guardian’: “I did well in the first game and I enjoyed playing in that position. I fell in love and moved on. Six or eight months after I became a goalkeeper, the clubs came looking for me.” However, as a Liverpool fan, he was never in doubt that Anfield would be his destiny. And he arrived in 2015, aged 17.
He was a forward of 20 or 30 goals per season. Nothing disturbed him and he effortlessly shifted position. When he started playing goalkeeper, he was impressive, like a cat
“He was a striker with 20 or 30 goals a season. Nothing fazed him and he changed positions effortlessly. When he started playing goalkeeper, he was impressive. He made saves from left, right and centre. When the ball flew into the area, he would simply pounce on it. He was like a cat”, assured in the ‘Daily Mail’ Sean Fitzgerald, secretary of the Irish Ringmahon Rangers from which Kelleher left. A performance he reproduced at Wembley in front of Lukaku and company. A decade after stopping attacking the area to protect it, the Ireland international has already played 17 games for Liverpool and has lifted the Carabao Cup as a protagonist. He has reached the top.
