Raphael Spiegel says beating Liverpool would be a career highlight
With just little under 24 hours until the Development Squad host Liverpool in the semi-final of the U21 Premier League Cup, goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel said it would be “amazing” for his side to reach the final.
The towering Swiss youth international has been in sterling form recently, saving a penalty in the last minutes against Blackburn Rovers to secure his side valuable point, before he put in an equally impressive performance away at Newcastle United.
Now, the 23-year-old is fully focused on the Liverpool game, on Wednesday 16 March, 7pm kick off at Rush Green.
Spiegel said: “It would be amazing to get to the final, I think we have a great chance and we will give it everything.
“It’s important to go into Wednesday’s game with confidence, and we’re going into the game with some momentum so we’re in a good position. We are ready for Wednesday.”
Despite limited first team appearances, Spiegel has long been a member of the first team squad and his performances have so impressed goalkeeping coach Chris Woods, that the Swiss’ efforts were recently rewarded with a new contract.
And while his first team colleagues are going well in the FA Cup, his Development Squad counterparts are emulating them in style.
He continued: “We’re in good form at the moment. It wasn’t easy to come away to Newcastle, get a big win and put in a performance like we did. But I think we clearly deserved to win and we did well.
“I’d like to think I helped the team with my saves and overall I am happy with my performance.
“It was frustrating because I was injured for a bit, but I’ve been back for a few weeks, which has been really good for me. To be able to help the team straight away is important, and if I play against Liverpool, I’ll do all I can to help us get the win.”
The towering Swiss youth international has been in sterling form recently, saving a penalty in the last minutes against Blackburn Rovers to secure his side valuable point, before he put in an equally impressive performance away at Newcastle United.
Now, the 23-year-old is fully focused on the Liverpool game, on Wednesday 16 March, 7pm kick off at Rush Green.
Spiegel said: “It would be amazing to get to the final, I think we have a great chance and we will give it everything.
“It’s important to go into Wednesday’s game with confidence, and we’re going into the game with some momentum so we’re in a good position. We are ready for Wednesday.”
Despite limited first team appearances, Spiegel has long been a member of the first team squad and his performances have so impressed goalkeeping coach Chris Woods, that the Swiss’ efforts were recently rewarded with a new contract.
And while his first team colleagues are going well in the FA Cup, his Development Squad counterparts are emulating them in style.
He continued: “We’re in good form at the moment. It wasn’t easy to come away to Newcastle, get a big win and put in a performance like we did. But I think we clearly deserved to win and we did well.
“I’d like to think I helped the team with my saves and overall I am happy with my performance.
“It was frustrating because I was injured for a bit, but I’ve been back for a few weeks, which has been really good for me. To be able to help the team straight away is important, and if I play against Liverpool, I’ll do all I can to help us get the win.”