Cillessen cleans the gloves

The game against Sevilla leaves, among others, consequences in the goal of Valencia in the form of debate. Will Mamardashvili continue under sticks or will he get back gallons of incumbent Cillessen? The doubts that existed in the first days about Bordalás's decision in the goal were dissipated by the good work of the Georgian, although the errors, some of the bulk, committed by the young goalkeeper in each of the last four goals conceded for Valencia (Benzema's and Sevilla's three) reopens the debate for the match against Athletic Bilbao.

“It is time to reflect and think about the match against Athletic … A very important game, a great team. To recover the team, analyze and improve aspects of the game. They are the first to know that there are mistakes that cannot be conceded” , Bordalás commented in the press room of Sánchez Pizjuán. His last sentence spoke openly of the mistakes and among them, those of the goalkeeper.

The cameras that focused on the Valencia bench during the broadcast of the game against Sevilla captured various conversations of Bordalás with José Manuel Ochotorena, goalkeeper coach. Later, during the hydration break of the first half, while the players made a huddle around Bordalás, Ochotorena made a aside with Mamardashvili, who at that moment had already conceded three goals, who would have a thousand doubts in the head and 60 minutes of game still ahead. That talk was good for the goalkeeper, who will turn 29 on September 29, and from then on he neither made mistakes nor in his interventions did he convey the doubts with which the game started.

Bordalás now has 72 hours to decide if it is time to change the goalkeeper. The Alicante, who during the summer showed his desire to have Cillessen in his squad, has understood to date that he had no reason to take ownership of Mamardashvili. This was made known to Cillessen himself after the match against Osasuna, in which he again bet on the Georgian. Bordalás wanted to reward the good work of the Georgian in the first three days and in turn sent a message to the rest: whoever takes their opportunity, will continue playing. But that did not mean that he was unhappy with the Dutchman's daily work.

Now, Mamardashvili's performance is marked by the errors of Sevilla and Cillessen calls for the starting position against Athletic for the first time this season. The Dutchman was injured on the first day of the League and the Georgian was key in the victory against Getafe. Cillessen, who only played in the first friendly match against Villarreal in the summer, he played his last official match against Huesca on May 22. Then he was left out of the Eurocup because De Boer did not want to wait for him after catching the coronavirus.