2023-08-17 21:31:30
When he entered the game (123rd minute), a few seconds from the end of extra time, one could legitimately think that Ruben Blanco was a specialist in the exercise of penalties. It is not so. While OM were playing their qualification against Panathinaikos on Tuesday, in the preliminary round of the Champions League, Marcelino decided to replace Pau Lopez with Ruben Blanco for the penalty shootout.
A coaching that could recall that of Louis Van Gaal in the 2014 World Cup with the Netherlands and which had introduced Tim Krul in place of Jasper Cillessen for the penalties in the quarter-finals. Except that the Marseille number 2 is far from having the stats and references of the Dutch goalkeeper.
Moreover, Ruben Blanco has never emerged victorious in this type of duel in the Spanish championship. According to statistics from a journalist from Relevo, the former Celta Vigo, bought this summer by OM, did not stop any of the 22 penalties (two were off target) he suffered in La Liga. His only penalty save, against Kevin Gameiro, dates back to 2016 and a Copa del Rey match.
Marcelino didn’t work on penalties
Ruben Blanco had never played a penalty shootout before Tuesday evening. However, it was he who was appointed by Marcelino to try to qualify OM for the Champions League play-offs. A choice that the Marseille coach justified in a press conference after the match. “I don’t regret the change of goalkeeper before the penalty shootout, it’s a decision that we took with all the staff and that I assume. We were unlucky even on penalties, since we had this shot on goal repelled which still landed in the net. Fate did not want us to qualify today. »
Luck then? Fate perhaps? In any case, the strategy of the Spanish coach was not conclusive on this one since the 28-year-old goalkeeper did not stop any. Marcelino had even confided, before this return match, not wanting to project himself on a possible shooting session on goal. “I’m thinking of winning the game within 90 minutes and qualifying. I only think about this. That’s how we prepared for the match. With that goal in mind, we didn’t work on penalties. We only think about winning, we have the solutions to do so. In the end, OM failed to qualify during regular time or during the penalty shootout and will therefore participate in the Europa League this season.
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