Emilio Isierte on Romain Matthys, the modern goalkeeper at the heart of CD Castellón’s defensive improvement | OneFootball

CD Castellón’s long goalkeeping line has a new standard-bearer in Romain Matthys, who has kept six clean sheets and is in the Zamora race. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, his form under Pablo Hernández reflects a clear defensive step forward to match the side’s attacking thrust.

This season the Belgian has conceded 18 in 22 league games. It is the club’s first Zamora chase at SkyFi Castalia since Carlos Sánchez in 2008, and Matthys is up against Las Palmas keeper Dinko Horkas, on 0.77, ahead of their meeting.

From his roles with À Punt radio and the Conexión Orellut podcast, former Castellón keeper Emilio Isierte sees Matthys as the modern goalkeeper. He points to distribution and involvement with team-mates as the big change from his era, with back-pass rules reshaping the role.

Isierte credits goalkeeper coach Carlos Gómez for Matthys’s progress, as previously with Gonzalo Crettaz. He says the Belgian has adapted to the style and a different league, arrived with strong footwork by design, and, above all, still stops shots.

He also stresses the wider defensive lift, with fewer shots faced through collective work. Hernández has fashioned a more robust unit, and in the recent run clean sheets have been decisive because they bring points.

In 1989 Isierte conceded 17 in 27 as Castellón went up, while the Zamora went to Real Mallorca’s Ezaki Badou. He hears echoes of Luiche’s side, when 1-0 or 0-1 wins were common, and says the Dépor win at SkyFi Castalia was a real injection that can make a team feel almost invincible.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo