You can tell a lot about a moment on a football pitch by the reaction in the stands.
When George Earthy put West Ham United U21s on their way to a 3-2 win over Chelsea on Friday 27 January, the crowd gasped; when Divin Mubama scored his second of the night they applauded; but when Krisztián Hegyi sprawled to his left to tip a header from Mason Burstow onto the bar, Kingsmeadow fell silent - in complete disbelief.
“I didn’t believe I was getting there,” Hegyi smiled on his save, “but you have to go for it, even if you don’t think you’re saving it.
“It’s a reaction save. I think I was set on time and that’s what helped me get across and get my left hand behind the ball.
“I am always really happy to help the team with my saves; that’s my job, so I’m glad to have been able to make a couple of big saves. I am really happy for the lads; it was such a huge win for us.”
For Hegyi, such moments have become almost expected. There was a crucial penalty save in a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur last year, and Chelsea was more of the same. It's the sort of quality that has seen first team goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero label the the 6’4 stopper as ‘the brightest prospect in his country to be the long-term No1 for the senior team.’
The 20-year-old clearly has the quality then. But now, Hegyi, who had been involved in matchday squads with the first team this season, wants to step up his role by supporting his teammates throughout the 90 minutes.
For a goalkeeper, he admits that role is crucial whether you have the armband or not.
“Communication is very important in football,” Hegyi added, ahead of the U21s' Premier League International Cup tie against Monaco on Friday.
“I feel like as a keeper, you always have to organise and push the lads forward. You have to help your teammates and communicate with them.
“The lads did really well against Chelsea. We showed more personality, it was a big improvement in terms of communication.
“We had to keep positive and working hard [after the defeat to Manchester United] and I think the lads have been doing that in training. We have to continue that [against Monaco] now.”
