Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Josh O'Brien

Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp in fiery discussion over Thomas Tuchel's Kepa decision

Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp clashed after Kepa Arrizabalaga's Carabao Cup Final failure.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel opted to deploy the rare tactic of changing goalkeepers when he replaced Edouard Mendy with Kepa towards the end of extra-time.

Mendy had been one of the Blues' best players over the course of the 120 minutes, keeping his side in the game with multiple stellar saves against Liverpool.

However, as the game wore on and the prospect of a penalty shootout started to loom larger, Tuchel made the bold call of substituting Mendy and allowing Kepa the chance to become the hero from the spot.

It was not the first time Tuchel has made the decision, it having worked to great success during the UEFA Super Cup final last August against Villarreal.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Was Tuchel wrong to replace Mendy with Kepa before the shootout? Comment below

Kepa Arrizabalaga missed the crucial penalty for Chelsea in the shootout ((Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images))

Unfortunately for Tuchel and the Spaniard, history failed to repeat itself as he ended up being the villain of the afternoon, failing to save any of the 11 penalties he faced before missing the decisive spot-kick himself, blazing high over the crossbar.

As a result, debate was rife over Tuchel's decision.

Carragher and Redknapp, who both covered the game as pundits on Sky Sports, had contrasting views over the situation.

"I don't like it, I think it is rubbish," Redknapp claimed. "Mendy is likely to save them, he is one of the best keepers in the world. I hope it puts it to bed now.

"I don't think it works and it is a rubbish idea. I didn't like his [Kepa] behaviour all the way through it. I think it is a case of being too clever for your own good. You're complicating it.

"He [Mendy] is a bigger keeper and there is no reason why they couldn't have won it if they had Mendy in goal."

However, Carragher did remind his fellow pundit that the same tactical tweak came to Chelsea's rescue in the Super Cup.

"We shouldn't forget that was the decision he made in the Super Cup final," the Liverpool icon explained.

"Kepa came on and they won that game. I think Chelsea have won two shootouts on their way to this final - and this is Kepa's competition.

"There is a method behind it and you also have the psychological side of things, where you bring a keeper on from the bench and how it affects the opposition.

"That wasn't the case and the penalties were fantastic from all players."

Redknapp remained unconvinced by that line of argument and replied: "He [Kepa] didn't get near a penalty, not even close.

"Anyone can miss a penalty, but it just doesn't make sense to me. He is not a good enough keeper to put all your eggs in that basket."

"I never said that," Carragher hit back. "There's no way a manager make a decision that would give him less chance of winning. They have had success doing that. Who knows what would have happened.

"What I'm saying is, Tuchel has taken that decision before and they won the Super Cup."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.