The impressive stops of Cillessen, a very discreet hero

Source: The World

The Barça goal is in good hands. There is no doubt about that, however much Víctor Valdés’s departure, for a moment, seemed to unleash an earthquake similar to the one that followed the traumatic march of Andoni Zubizarreta. In this case, there was no crossing of the desert. Marc-André ter Stegen and Claudio Bravo showed their great quality from the first minute, but their relationship ended up being absolutely stormy. Jasper Cillessen, the reliever of the Chilean, on the other hand, barely raises his voice. Tremendously disciplined, he fulfills a note when he has to be under the sticks. The Dutch goal has become accustomed to reveal himself as an absolutely discreet hero. The great game that he signed before a Tottenham turned almost desperate in attack proves it. Cillessen signed incredible saves, but could not take the satisfaction of leaving the goal to zero at the end. Lucas Moura, in the umpteenth arrival of the English, beat him with a hard shot, almost without opposition, shortly after he saved a practically sung goal from the Brazilian with an almost impossible stop, with a fast and flat flight. It is very clear that several Europe greats would be delighted to have him in their ranks. And he wants more minutes. But, at least for the moment, it does not move from the Camp Nou. And that, for Ernesto Valverde, is a blessing: «We have two great goalkeepers and that is far from being a problem», assured the Barça coach after the tie against Tottenham. «Managing that sometimes is not easy. We want him to be happy, but in the end Marc, when he plays, endorses that starting point because he plays great games, as much as Jasper does, «said Valverde, who had no problem praising the match he signed. the Dutch goalkeeper. «His performance has been incredible,» he said. Cillessen was one of the great protagonists along with an Ousmane Dembélé who, unlike the Dutch, does not shine precisely because of his strict application of the discipline. Fine of 200,000 euros for DembéléAl French, who arrived two hours late to the morning training last Sunday, after signing a good goal against Espanyol in the derby. They have given him a good tug of the ears inside the locker room. Something that, according to the Cope, has also been completed with a strong economic penalty: a fine of 200,000 euros. All the turmoil that has been generated, however, does not seem to worry Valverde too much. «I do not worry too much about these things. I am a supporter that what happens inside resolves internally and does not have to leave the walls we have, but we know how things are. There are some things that are said in front of the gallery and others not so much, «he said.» He has scored a great goal, within reach of players like him, with the talent he has. Throughout the season things happen with the players and we will try to solve them internally. What we expect is that he, like all the players who have been in the field, gives us many joys, «said a Valverde who regained his most relaxed tone to talk about the minutes Leo Messi had on the pitch. «It is better to play a while. He likes it, we also and the public, not even tell you, «said the coach of Barca. The great protagonist, with everything, was a Dembélé to whom the wardrobe wants to wrap up. «He is a spectacular player that we have to help and give him love. He has a lot of future and he is already a present player. He has shown again with another goal to the height of very few, who knows how to do it, «explained Carles Aleñá Movistar Champions League. «In the end, you have to separate things and you do not have to kill them. It is true that he has had failures, and he already knows it, but he will correct it, «said the canterano.