Following his Man-of-the-Match performance against Reading in the Emirates FA Cup, Sergio Romero has revealed the specific work on the training pitch that helps make him one of the best back-up goalkeepers in world football.
The Argentinian drew masses of post-match acclaim from Reds fans after his display in the 2-0 win over the Royals, which was only his third start of the season.
Recently, we asked Sergio – known as ‘Chiqui’ to his team-mates – to give us some insight into his current training techniques, as he and his colleagues tackle United’s mid-season camp in Dubai.
Recently, we asked Sergio – known as ‘Chiqui’ to his team-mates – to give us some insight into his current training techniques, as he and his colleagues tackle United’s mid-season camp in Dubai.
“We are working at the moment with Emilio [Alvarez] and the other goalkeeping coaches, putting in a lot of good work, hard work,”revealed United’s no. 22.
"There is a lot of work one-to-one to maintain a high level of competence and ability. We put in a lot of hard work as it helps us maximise the potential we have to do some great goalkeeping."
“For example, recently we were working on crosses. It’s not just one single action or reaction but a multi-functional task to train as a goalkeeper and to train goalkeepers as a coach as well.
“We look at clearances, punches, kicking from the box, blocks, of course, and stopping strikes on goal. Also we work on speed and how quickly you can drop to the ground to make a block, combating difficult balls and strikes on goal.
“There is a lot of work one-to-one to maintain a high level of competence and ability. We put in a lot of hard work as it helps us maximise the potential we have to do some great goalkeeping.
“The key is always to mix it up and have a variety of different activities,“ he explained. ”In the build-up days to any match, we tend to work on our reactions and on crosses. In the days prior to that, we do what I call heavier work – work on the legs, physical strength and building up your body strength. Closer to the match, it comes down to blocks, distribution and reactions.”
After the third-round win against Reading – in which Romero made important saves to deny Danny Loader, Andy Yiadom, Callum Harriott and Sone Aluko – Romero and co jetted to the Middle East, where they will prepare for Sunday’s match against Tottenham.
The clash will be caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first test against one of the Premier League’s leading sides, but Romero prefers to speak effusively about United’s own form, rather than the opposition.
“We’ve had a great run,”he states. “Not just the results, but the way in which we have won the games as well. Scoring five goals in one match was a big boost to confidence and was really something. What we’re showing now, after a great Christmas, is only right for a club of this stature, [it] proves what we can do. The run we’ve had over Christmas and new year is testament to that.
“[The manager] knows what he wants to achieve – both for the club and us as individuals. On the pitch and within the club, he has made it very clear from the outset so we know the expectation of us inside the club and externally. You can see he has brought to the club a certain happiness and it is going well.”
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