1 week ago
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Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Disappointing (maybe) but unsurprising to no one, Arne Slot is standing behind our wold class Brazilian goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, for his return to fitness.
Alisson came off injured in the Crystal Palace match back in October, suffering a hamstring injury and forcing Vítězslav Jaroš into his league debut, with number 2 keeper Caoimhin Kelleher unavailable at the time. Kelleher since then has stepped into the role with his usual heroics. He has been reliable, confident, and a balm to the nerves whenever trouble comes too close to his goal. Kelleher has carried his considerable skills to the international stage as well, putting in a shift on Thursday to keep the Republic of Ireland from losing to Finland.
All of these points are moot, unfortunately, when it comes to one of the best ‘keepers in the world. He is still injured, but head coach Arne Slot made it clear where he stands when the Brazilian regains fitness.
“First of all, Alisson needs to become fit,” Slot said to the press recently. “I have always been quite clear, that’s always been the position of Alisson. He is and will be our first goalkeeper if he is fit.
“But first he needs to be fit. But Caoimhin has done outstanding, last season and this season again as well but the moment Alisson is fit, he will be our first goalkeeper.”
Sure it may be expected, Alisson is Alisson, but our time with Kelleher is running out. He has already made it known that he would like to move somewhere to be the number one for a squad. That move didn’t come to pass during the summer, it is likely that he will leave next year when Giorgi Mamardashvili arrives from his loan to Valencia.
“Obviously my intention is to do as well as I can and show my ability,” Kelleher explained ahead of October’s clash with Chelsea. “That is where my head is at with the situation. The best thing I can do is go and play well and maybe give the manager something to think about, give him a headache.
“But it does work both ways. I played so many times last season - and if you do well your valuation goes up because obviously the club is going to want a good profit. I was clear (in the summer) that I wanted to play first-team football, whether that was here or elsewhere. I wanted to be a No.1.
“That was my thought process – but it’s always been my thought process because obviously I am a football player and like every player, I want to play. I’m not going to enjoy myself or be happy sitting on the bench.”
Alisson himself is 32, so the club have to be thinking about long term plans for the goalkeeper, though unfortunately it looks like those plans don’t include Kelleher.
