Liam Kelly reflected on his goalkeeping heroics for Rangers against Athletic Bilbao – and shared what was said between him and the man he replaced between the sticks.
Rangers boss Barry Ferguson made a huge call ahead of the Europa League quarter final first leg, dropping established number one Jack Butland to the substitutes bench and putting Kelly in the firing line against the top Spanish side.
Kelly proved to be the key man for his side, saving a second-half penalty as Rangers, who had Robin Propper sent off after just ten minutes, fought their way to a 0-0 draw.
Butland was the first man on the pitch at full time, racing over to congratulate Kelly on his performance.
“We were just kind of laughing as if to say ‘My God, what a night’,” Kelly said.
“I said to him his [performance against] Fenerbahce was me tonight. You get that amazing moment as a goalkeeper and he was so pleased for me and he’s such a genuine guy as well.
“Big thanks to him, big thanks to all the goalkeeping group.”
Butland was left out of the side after a mistake in the league defeat to Hibs last week, and having had a relatively shaky season compared to the rest of his time in Scotland. Kelly backed him to get back to his best and said he had “absolutely everything” a top goalkeeper needs.
“Me and Jack have got a great relationship,” he said. “It’s not an easy position to get into when you’ve got a goalie who was the best in the league by an absolute mile last year.
“When something difficult is happening, something good is always right around the corner.
“Big Jack is an incredible goalie. He’s got absolutely everything in his game.
“We all go through difficult moments. I stepped in tonight, but he’s an amazing goalie, and I’ve learned so much from him.”
Kelly was reluctant to celebrate the result and performance too much, insisting it is only half-time in a difficult tie, with a trip to Bilbao next week for the decisive match. But the 29-year-old admitted the game was one to remember.
“A good game for a goalie is one you’re not involved in,” he said.
“I wasn’t asked to do too much, to be honest. Whatever I did, I did all right.
“I wanted to go under the radar, but obviously, the penalty save takes that away. That’s life as a goalie.
“I’ve had much better games in terms of stuff to do but in terms of a general feeling, it’s right up there.
“I’ve been here my whole life. I came to Ibrox at eight years old, so to play in a European quarter-final and save a penalty at Ibrox, draw 0-0 when down to ten men, it’s an incredible feeling. “
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