Pepe Reina’s splendid show under the bar against Chelsea prompted Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard to hail the custodian as the best goalkeeper in the world.
Reina was the architect of Liverpool’s 4-1 win in the shoot-out against Chelsea, saving penalties from Arjen Robben and Geremi, which made all the difference. Reina’s heroics also helped his side reach its second Champions League final in three years.
After what turned out to be Liverpool’s 11th win in 12 consecutive shoot-outs, an ecstatic Gerrard showered praise on Reina.
Gerrard said
We have the best goalkeeper in the world. We saw his penalty saves before he came so we knew all about him.
Interestingly, Reina also emulated his father, who was the Atletico Madrid goalkeeper in the 1974 final.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was also generous with his praise for Reina.
Benitez said
We had the players practising in every session on penalties. Two or three of the players practise penalties every day. We had the confidence in the penalty shoot-out because we have the best goalkeeper in the world.
You need your keeper in penalty situations as a bonus and he was superb. Pepe is always good with penalties and in the final of the FA Cup he was fantastic.
Photo credit: goal.com
