Former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba has revealed the work that was behind the penalty shootout victory to get Forest to Wembley at the end of last season.
The Reds faced Sheffield United in the Championship play-off semi-final back in May. 2-1 away wins in both legs of the tie saw the game go to extra time and eventually a penalty shootout.
Samba proved to be the hero for Forest, saving penalty kicks from Oliver Norwood, Conor Hourihane and Morgan Gibbs-White to send Steve Cooper ’s men to Wembley. The final saw Forest book their place back in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Huddersfield Town.
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After his heroics, the goalkeeper moved on from the City Ground in the summer, joining French side Lens. He has now been called up to the France national team for the first time.
Ahead of joining up with his new international teammates, the former Forest man has reflected on the big moments of his career. One of those is the play-off semi-final victory, with Samba explaining the preparation that went into the success.
“That day, I was blessed. In a career, it happens very few times,” he told L’Equipe (via SportWitness ). “Those penalties, we’d worked them a lot. We’d had a one and a half hour video sessions. It was long.
“When I was facing them, I remembered a sentence from my goalkeeping coach: ‘There’s two types of penalties. There’s those with no pressure at 3-0 or those under pressure, and when you’re under pressure, you go back to the basics, and to your habits’.”
The goalkeeper also explained how he likes to put himself in the striker’s shoes in order to understand the impact that the mind games can have in the situation.
“Penalties? It’s a really interesting psychological duel that I love,” he added. “In training, I try to take some, and I see how hard it is. It’s difficult when a goalkeeper moves, talks to you, it unsettles you.”
What are your memories of the play-off semi-final vs Sheffield United? Tell us in the comments section
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