RALPH Hasenhuttl described the performance of veteran goalkeeper Willy Caballero versus Coventry City as “absolutely fantastic”, after he rescued Saints in the final minute.
The 40-year-old was recalled to the net for the first time since mid-December as the Championship outfit visited St Mary’s for the FA Cup fourth round.
It was only the third Saints appearance for the former Argentina international, who signed initially on a one-month deal as emergency cover for Alex McCarthy and Fraser Forster before impressing Hasenhuttl so much he kept him on for the season.
The ex-Manchester City and Chelsea man repaid his new manager’s faith with a crucial and fantastic – in equal measure – double save in the last minute of extra-time, to prevent the tie going to a penalty shootout.
Goalscorer Viktor Gyokeres saw his fierce strike destined for goal saved but it fell only to Martyn Waghorn – before his effort was too saved by Caballero and the third shot, struck by Todd Kane and hitting Waghorn on the way in, was adjudged to be offside and thus Saints survived.
“Absolutely fantastic. I’m very happy,” Hasenhuttl said, when asked of Caballero’s vital contribution.
“This is the reason I wanted to give him a chance to play. He absolutely deserves it. He’s a fantastic goalkeeper.”
He continued: “With Alex out and Fraser taking a rest, it was important he showed up and that we can trust him. He showed a fantastic performance.
“Even in the penalty shooting, he’s really a penalty killer. I was always confident because I felt with penalties he’s always good here.
“I’m happy to have him here and for him to play such a good game.”
Despite playing 86 times for Chelsea and Manchester City combined, Caballero has only actually played in the Premier League on 36 occasions – with two of those in a Saints shirt.
Yet Hasenhuttl had previously commented how Caballero brings so much to the mental side of the game for the goalkeeping group that he was desperate to keep him beyond the first month.
As it stands, all three of the first-team shot-stoppers are set to see their Saints contracts expire in the summer, unless new deals are announced.
Whether Caballero remains at St Mary’s beyond the summer remains to be seen, and seems unlikely, but Hasenhuttl is more than impressed for now.
“When you see his body at this age, you have to do a lot of things right,” he said.
“He’s very settled, with both feet on the ground. A type of player and character every manager wants to have in their team.”
Forster is expected to return to the starting XI when Saints travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, with McCarthy having suffered a setback in his hamstring injury recovery.
McCarthy’s concern will see Caballero continue as Hasenhuttl’s back-up for the coming weeks.
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