Keylor Navas has saved three of the four penalties he has faced this season, and that is nothing new. Since his arrival in Spain, he has saved seven out of 15 spot-kicks. His success hinges on hours of hard work watching videos prepared by Real Madrid goalkeeping coach, Luis Llopis, whom he also worked with at Levante.
He had the following to say of his mentor after the game against Sevilla: “Luis is vital to me”. Keylor and Llopis do not only study the basics, like whether a player usually goes left or right, but also their body movements. The theory is that every player leans when he takes his shot, which often gives the keeper a crucial clue, if he can read the signs, as to which way he will shoot.
Keylor spends hours and hours working on that aspect of his game. Firstly, he works on the theory and then practises out on the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Marcelo and company.
One of the other keys to Keylor’s success is standing firm in goal. That is what the theory says, but not all goalkeepers have the nerve to wait until the striker takes his shot. Navas does just that and counts on his impressive reflexes to get to the ball.
To conclude, Keylor also uses intimidation to his advantage. Before every spot-kick, he approaches the player taking the penalty and asks him to place the ball well or to offer him some words of encouragement. He stays there until the referee comes over and tells him to return to the goal line.
Bron: Marca
