The superlative of wasting time? “Goalkeeper sitting down is a well-known trick to make tactical adjustments” | Extra Time

In the 80th minute of the top match, Kasper Schmeichel suddenly sat down. The Dane was briefly treated for an injury and coach Brian Riemer eagerly used that time to call some players to the side and whisper instructions.

“Is that the superlative of wasting time? Or is it smart?”, asks Filip Joos in Extra Time.

“A goalkeeper who sits down because he receives a signal, that has certainly already happened,” says Peter Vandenbempt. “I don’t know whether that was the case.”

Arnar Vidarsson agrees: “It is a well-known trick for a trainer when you want to make adjustments. After all, a goalkeeper never has to leave the field. A signal is given to the goalkeeper and then you can call all your players to the sideline. That is not so difficult.”

AA Gent coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck also noticed it. “After the match I congratulated Jan Vertonghen. Not only for his match, but also because he was one of the only Anderlecht players who did not sit down today,” Vanhaezebrouck remarked scornfully during the press conference.