Jurgen Klopp takes blame for Sadio Mane penalty miss vs Chelsea in the FA Cup final
Speaking after the FA Cup final win against Chelsea (as quoted by ESPN), Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp revealed that it was partly his fault that led to Sadio Mane having his penalty saved by Edouard Mendy.
The Reds won in the penalty shootout in a domestic cup final for the second time this season- both against the Blues. Earlier, Caiomhin Kelleher stood between the sticks and while he failed to save any of Chelsea’s 11 spot-kicks, Kepa Arrizabalaga’s goal-kick of a penalty was enough to hand us the EFL Cup.
This time around, Alisson Becker was in the team and got a big hand to deny Chelsea’s Mason Mount that perfectly set up Kostas Tsimikas’ winning penalty right after it. But Sadio Mane had the chance to win the game before that.
Cesar Azpilicueta was Chelsea’s second PK-taker on the night and hit the post. No one missed their penalties after that until the Senegalese winger stepped up with the chance to win Liverpool the FA Cup- up against Edouard Mendy, his international teammate with whom he won the AFCON earlier this year.
Mane hit a penalty low to the goalie’s left, which was saved. Mane went back to his teammates and seemingly said something to them while smiling. Now it turns out, it could be because he was wondering what could have been had Klopp not given him special instructions. Our German manager revealed after the game:
“Sadio’s penalty was maybe more, for sure at least 50 per cent, my responsibility. We have to let the boys do what they think they do but with him, I said ‘he knows exactly the goalie so do it the other way around.’ Like very often in my life I realise it was better to shut up.”
Penalties are arguably more about luck than skill. You can hit a strong penalty, like Mount did yesterday, and still have it saved. Or, you may not connect well, hit in a wayward direction and still see it go in, as Konate did with Kepa in goal.
Klopp was perhaps right in making the suggestion. But then again, Mendy would also know Mane well and may have guessed that the ex-Southampton was going to try and fool him this time around.
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Nevertheless, if it wasn’t for Mane’s miss, Tsimikas wouldn’t have had the chance to take the biggest kick of a football in his career. All’s well that ends well.
