Keep
The name of Geronimo Rulli (La Plata, Argentina, 1992) has already entered the annals of Villarreal history after his launch to the squad and his stop to David De Gea in the penalty shoot-out of the Europa League final. When the big events end in a draw and they have to be decided from 11 meters, football becomes an individual sport, a matter that turns the footballer into a hero or a villain in a matter of seconds. And, due to the amount of opportunities he has to intervene in a penalty shootout, the goalkeeper usually occupies that disguise.
So it was last night. After an exhibition of pitches in which all the outfield players scored both Villarreal like Manchester United, it was the goalkeepers’ turn. First Rulli fired as if he were in goalkeeping training: a whip from the outer instep to the right corner, impossible for the Spaniard. The pressure was on De Gea. He had in his right hand the opportunity to tie a round doomed to sudden death without end. As Gerard Moreno prepared to shoot again, Rulli saved De Gea’s tight shot from low. Finally, hard hands for the Argentine, which had already been about to stop Luke Shaw’s, thrown in the same place as his goalkeeper.
Undoubtedly, the game in Gdansk represents the zenith of the career of an Argentine who arrived in Spain very young. After a good campaign with Students, with 20 years he landed in San Sebastián. In fact, its opening bars in the Real they were promising, being the undisputed starter in his first three seasons. However, Moya’s signing in 2017-18 coincided with a loss of confidence from La Plata. His doubts in the aerial balls increased and his performances decreased. After an assignment in the Montpellier, Villarreal paid five million euros to the San Sebastian for the goalkeeper. A luxury substitute who has played a leading role in this season finale.
Penalties were always Gerónimo’s specialty and Emery knew it (he adds up to 25% of shots stopped in his career). With this unprecedented display (nothing like it is remembered since a West Ham – Everton FA Cup, when Adrián San Miguel scored the decisive penalty), Gero Rulli ends a difficult season personally. The starter in League is Asenjo and the role of the Argentine was relegated to the Copa del Rey and the Europa League. In all competitions he has played a total of 20 games, a scarce number of performances for a goalkeeper who promised more stability in his years at Anoeta. With three more years of contract at Villarreal and after his great performance in a European final, Gero Rulli is in a position to snatch the title from Sergio Asenjo in the face of an exciting season of Super Cup Y Champions League.
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