Much-maligned Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga enjoyed a rare moment of individual success in a Blues shirt last night after his penalty shootout heroics won his club the UEFA Super Cup.
The West-London outfit secured their second European trophy in three months against La Liga outfit Villarreal in what was a hard fought victory.
Thomas Tuchel's side had taken the lead in the first half via Hakim Ziyech, but Gerard Moreno's equaliser mid-way through the second period sent the tie into extra-time.
The half hour of extra time passed by with little to note apart from Tuchel's decision to introduce the Spaniard as a substitute in place of first-choice 'keeper Edouard Mendy with just over a minute left of extra time, a move that certainly raised a few eyebrows.
However, Blues boss Tuchel has since come out and explained that the change was not off the cuff and had been pre-planned before the game.
"No, no. It was not spontaneous. We talked about it with the goalkeepers when we came and had the first cup game against Barnsley," Tuchel explained to BT Sport shortly after Chelsea ’s win.
"So we had some statistics, we were well prepared, [knowing] that Kepa is the best percentage at saving penalties. The analysing guys, the goalkeeping coaches showed me, introduced me to the data and then we spoke with the players that this can happen when we play in knockout games."
Tuchel went on to explain how all the data suggests Kepa is a superior goalkeeper when it comes to saving penalties, data that inspired the substitution.
"There is proof that Kepa is better in this discipline and these guys are true team players. I’m happy for Kepa and happy for Edou.
"To have goalkeepers like this that does not show their pride to not step off the field, that was happy to do it and take this for the team is top."
Following the conclusion of the contest, Tuchel told the media at his post-match press conference that the pecking order for who would take their place between the sticks during a penalty shootout had been "openly discussed".
"Mendy puts his ego to one side when we take this decision. He is aware of why we do this, that this is not a feeling and a sudden idea of the manager at the side-line.
"This was planned and openly discussed with the goalkeepers and I’m absolutely happy that they showed this team spirit that the team was first and Edou was fine to take this one for the team.
Will Kepa feature more for Chelsea this season? Have your say here.
"Okay, you still need luck, but everybody knows why we’re doing this and this is how it should be. Thanks to the support and bit of luck, Kepa could show and prove the quality."
Tuchel's decision to replace Mendy with Kepa looks all the more inspired as it comes just months after Man Utd's penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Villarreal in the Europa League final.
United 'keeper David de Gea was the villain of the evening, failing to save eleven Villarreal penalties before missing his own spot-kick, leaving the Red Devils faithful left to ponder what could have been had Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had the same courage of his convictions as Tuchel.
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