Redknapp hits out at Tuchel over ‘nonsense’ Chelsea decision

Joe Williams
Jamie Redknapp talks about Chelsea

Jamie Redknapp has accused Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel of being “too clever for your own good” after the Blues lost 11-10 to Liverpool on penalties in the Carabao Cup final.

Spain stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga came off the bench for Chelsea in the closing stages of extra time specifically for the shoot-out, but would not have expected to step up to strike from the spot himself.

A stunning set of penalties left both keepers having to shoot at goal, however, and Kepa proved a luckless fall guy when blazing high over the bar.

16 Conclusions on Liverpool beating Chelsea in the League Cup final

Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher had drilled a fine penalty into the net to heap the pressure on Kepa, and he came up just short at the very last.

And Redknapp has criticised Chelsea boss Tuchel for his “nonsense” decision to take Edouard Mendy – who had a brilliant game – off for Kepa.

“I think its a case of being too clever for your own good. Tuchel made the decision to bring him in for penalties, because he thinks he is better at saving penalties,” Redknapp said on Sky Sports.

“I think he’s complicating it. Mendy is a bigger goalkeeper. How can you say they wouldn’t win it with Mendy in goal?

“I think it’s nonsense and it proved nonsense again today. He didn’t get near a penalty. Not even close.

“We all agree anyone can miss a penalty but it just doesn’t make sense to me. He’s not a good enough goalkeeper to put all your eggs in that basket.

“I hope it puts to bed the idea of bringing on goalkeepers on for shoot-outs. Mendy’s one of the world’s best goalkeepers, and then you bring on Kepa instead, ridiculous.

“I didn’t like his behaviour when the penalties were being taken, and then he took one of the worst penalties you’ll ever see. I don’t understand why you’d do it.”

Speaking about his decision, Tuchel said after the match: “Do you think we do this and don’t talk to the players? The players know the plan and we have done it before.

“If you want to blame somebody, blame me; this is not a problem.

“I take the decisions and I don’t take them to try to be the hero. Today it took 11 penalties to find the winner. And if you want to blame anyone blame me, there’s no problem.”

 

Chelsea Jamie Redknapp

Related Articles