Juergen Klopp was not wrong to entrust Caoimhin Kelleher in the 2021/2022 Carabao Cup final. Kelleher can now align himself with Liverpool’s top goalkeepers thanks to the championship trophy.
Klopp made a surprising decision a few days before the final, when Kelleher was appointed to start against Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday (27/2/20220 night WIB).
In fact, Liverpool played a final match that has the opportunity to bring the first trophy of the season. Moreover, Liverpool has not won the domestic cup tournament for a long time.
The more experienced Alisson Becker of course should be installed and not Kelleher. However, Klopp believes Kelleher deserves the opportunity to play in the final.
Because the pace of Liverpool to the top party can not be separated from the role of Kelleher under the rule. He was the hero of Liverpool’s victory over Leicester City on penalties in the quarter-finals.
Klopp’s confidence was not wasted by Kelleher, who played excellently for 120 minutes with a total of four saves, including two close-range strikes from Mason Mount and Romelu Lukaku.
In the penalty shootout, Kelleher was unable to thwart a single Chelsea kicker before he finally scored to make the score 11-10. A flying penalty from Kepa Arrizabalaga secured a ninth English League Cup trophy for Liverpool.
Klopp’s decision paid off and Caoimhin Kelleher was able to put himself in line with his two colleagues, Alisson and Adrian, who both played a role in delivering trophies for Liverpool in the last four years.
“It’s nice when my decision bears fruit. He deserves it. I am a football manager and also a human being. This time it was my human side that won,” said Jurgen Klopp. BBC Sport.
“He’s still young, we’ve demanded a lot of things from him, he started early in this competition and we can qualify for the final. Then I said he couldn’t play in the final…,” he continued.
“There is always room for sentiment in football. We have a wall in the training center plastered with pictures of the goalkeeper with his championship trophy and Caoimhin to be able to join there – he should be there – it’s amazing indeed,” concluded Klopp.
(mrp / then)
