International Players

Tim Krul or Emiliano Martinez: who is the best at playing psychology with penalty kickers?

By Elijah Odetokun

Keepers that are good with saving penalties were known for being confident and manipulative. 
 

Keepers that are good with saving penalties were known for being confident and manipulative.   

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Emi Martinez broke into the Arsenal first team after Leno got injured during the pandemic and since then has established himself as a top tier goalkeeper. His escapades of recent is toying with players and getting into their head when it comes to penalty kicks. 

 

 

He has done this on several occasions and succeeded. Tim Krul is known for this habit too, he makes players restless and low on confidence. Both know this works because of the pressure penalty have on the takers and having a goalkeeper you have nothing to, afterall you are not expected to keep, if you did you get the praise for it. 

 

Martinez did it against Yeri Mina and his teammates in the quarter final game of Copa America some months ago. Yeri Mina actually lost the penalty when he told him he knows he's nervous and he's going to lose the penalty. He repeated the same attitude against Manchester United where he was seen calling on Ronaldo to come and take the penalty kick when Bruno Fernandes was already on the kick spot. It caused a brouhaha and piled pressure and Bruno eventually lost the penalty kick. 

 

Two seasons ago before going back to the championship, Krul did the same with Anthony Martial of Manchester United and the penalty had to be taken 3 times. Today against Chelsea he tried the same with Mason Mount after the penalty was asked to be replayed when it was obvious Krul stepped out of the line. To get into Mount head to lose the penalty again, he was telling him not to try to change his mind. Martinez did get lucky as he did get to save the penalty but Krul was not as lucky. 

 


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