The cup final is also the goalkeeping duel of the U21 national goalkeepers: the “cool sock” Keller – loud and confident

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A problem? Refuse all YB far away. A theme? Not even that. That there is someone in the goal of the champion in the cup final who will only turn 21 in a month is not even discussed within the team. In other clubs and people who tap differently than Marvin Keller, this would send chills.

Where is it from?

Veteran Sandro Lauper (26) tries to outline the character of London-born Keller: “He is special, that’s for sure. His confidence is very healthy for a 20-year-old. And he is doing very well. In training and now also in the competitions.” But that with self-confidence, how does that express itself? “Maybe because he’s from Zurich?” Lauper wonders. And laughs. It’s louder there, isn’t it? Also this question: rhetorically. “And,” the man adds from the quiet Konolfingen BE (5,500 inhabitants), “Marvin is a noisy keeper. But that’s what you need.”

Did Wicky have a premonition?

Does it need it, yes And in his three previous championship appearances you could see it for yourself. The self-confidence of the young man. From the volume. And of the naturalness with which a symbiosis between keeper and team came about. Of course, Keller was not supposed to be in goal in the cup final. David von Ballmoos (28) was originally number one, but he had to have surgery on his knee in March. Then Anthony Racioppi (24) represents him well. But he injured his meniscus on May 25 in Lugano. Did coach Raphael Wicky have a premonition when he allowed Keller his first two Super League appearances in the previous two games? Or was it just pure professionalism?

In any case, Wicky summons his number two to his office on Thursday before the game. Keller, as he later tells the Berner Zeitung, had a premonition. And left the room with a big grin. The childhood dream would come true. He did it. And Keller plays against FCZ as if nothing happened. Less than 31,500 fans in the sold-out Wankdorf. Not the outgoing champion as an opponent. Everything goes by itself.

The one minute TV interview

Then, in his first interview with Blick TV, Keller summed it up dry as dust and in the shortest sentences: “It was incredible to make the debut in front of our incredible fans. So it was amazing.” This was answer one. Answer two: “I didn’t have much to do. The goal was certainly difficult.” And answer three, when asked about the penalty: “It’s annoying. But he was very placed and therefore difficult.” And answer four afterwards: “I found out on Thursday, two days before the game, that I was playing.” And answer number five: “The coach’s goal was to give me my debut.” That’s it. The whole interview. Not a minute. Watch it. And you know everything…

The goalkeeper gloves from the market

Keller was born in London and grew up in the canton of Aargau. He gained his first experiences as a goalkeeper at FC Mutschellen. He is in goal because his father bought him a pair of goalkeeper gloves at a market for fun. Little Marvin then took these things off only when he had to and jumped on the bed with them, as he says in the “BZ”. A year later, at the age of seven, his father enrolled him in GC, where he went through all the juniors. Until he sees no perspective with the Hoppers in the summer of 2021 and goes to Wil, where he becomes number one after four games and stays there until YB comes knocking in the winter because Keller a) is very talented and you b) a back- up for Racioppi.

Together with Saipi to the final of the European U21 Championship

He will make his debut in the U21 national team in the fall of 2022. Where a certain Amir Saipi (22) has been number one since summer 2021. And now both are in the selection for the European Championship final in Romania. However, they are opponents to that. Saipi and the boy about whom the barely older YB star Fabian Rieder (21) says: “Marvin is a great sock. Like a guy. Like a keeper.”

He will need all his composure against the strong Lugano.

Source : Blick