Javi Poves is a coach who doesn’t mince words or show favoritism to anyone. This trait has been consistently evident in his public statements, and he reinforced it again recently in an interview on ‘Killing7′ after the Moscardó match. Specifically, he targeted the goalkeeper position and the unwritten rule that seems to protect them from being substituted during a game.
According to Poves, his goalkeeper had a particularly bad outing, which prompted him to make a change at halftime. “He has been very bad, to the point where I substituted him at rest,” Poves explained. He then tackled the notion that goalkeepers are somehow exempt from being replaced if they’re not performing well. “There’s this unwritten norm – I’m not sure which manual it’s from – that seems to suggest goalkeepers can’t be changed if they’re having a poor game. I’m going to put an end to that,” heasserted. For Poves, the position a player occupies on the field shouldn’t grant them immunity from being substituted if they’re underperforming. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a defender, striker, or goalkeeper – if you’re not up to par, you’re going to be changed,” he emphasized.
As Javi Poves put it, “It seems that the goalkeepers, if they’re not doing a good game, can’t be changed, and that’s something I am going to exterminate.” He believes that any player, regardless of their position, should be held to the same standards and face the same consequences for not meeting those standards.
Poves further elaborated on his stance, pointing out that underperformance can stem from various personal or professional issues. “You might not be performing well for many reasons: maybe you had a fight with your spouse, slept badly, or simply aren’t meeting the team’s demands. If you’re not at the level required by the team, there’s likely a teammate who can do the job just as well, if not better,” he added. This straightforward approach to team management reflects Poves’ commitment to fielding the best possible lineup, regardless of traditional norms or player positions.
