The Spaniard has shown his prowess in penalty shoot-outs in 2021-22, playing a big part in Chelsea’s victory over Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup.
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Kepa Arrizabalaga might have lost the No.1 spot in between the posts to Edouard Mendy, but when it comes to penalties, there are very few goalkeepers better than the Spanish shot-stopper. Kepa has shown his prowess in penalty shoot-outs again in 2021-22, playing a big part in Chelsea’s victory over Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup, and consecutive Carabao Cup wins against Aston Villa and Southampton. Kepa made four saves across those three shoot-outs, thereby taking his total to eight since joining Chelsea in 2018. As a result, he surpassed Petr Cech’s previous club record of six. It meant that the Blues have won three successive shoot-outs, and three in the same season – for the first time in their history.
“I didn’t know before I achieved this record of eight saves and I hadn’t heard about the record about the three penalty shoot-outs in a row, but I’m very happy and proud to be the record holder. So I’m very happy, but the most important thing was that the first one was for a trophy and the other two were to go to the next round,” he told the club’s website. “In the end it is about helping the team, because I am so happy to help the team when I have the opportunity and the record comes after that. The most important thing for me is going into the next round and winning it.”
Known to possess a real talent for penalties, Kepa was asked what gives him an edge in the shoot-outs. He replied, “I don’t know. I’ve liked penalties all my life, all my career I’ve saved penalties. I don’t want to say I have a secret, because maybe I don’t, but I feel well in that area. It is like some players feel comfortable in free-kicks or penalty shooting, like Jorginho. It’s one quality that I have, so I try to put my quality in this area at the disposal of the team.”
“I think success in penalties for a goalkeeper is down to a bit of everything. It’s a bit of preparation, it’s a bit of luck, it’s a bit of mental strength, it’s a bit of your quality – it’s a mix. Right now every team, every player, has information about the other players, so it is about how you manage that information.
“This is not mathematics, it’s not just two plus two equals four, so the instinct and how you approach the penalties is also important. What I always say is I like the penalty shoot-outs, but most importantly I like to help the team and if I can help in this way I am so happy.”
Since Edouard Mendy arrived at the club, Kepa has not been playing as often he used to play in his early days at Chelsea. Asked how does he stay ready when he is out of the side, Kepa replied, “It’s very important, you have to be ready. You have to be ready for yourself, you have to be ready for the team, also because it’s your job to be ready always, no?”
“It’s not easy when you’re not playing, everybody wants to play, but the best way I’m trying to do it is push every day hard. Just push yourself every day in the training and be positive. I know sometimes it is not easy, but you have to be very strong mentally.
“When I have the opportunity, like in the cups, or like I did in the league against Tottenham, when I come in I do my best to take the opportunity and give everything to make the manager have a hard decision.”
