Former AC Milan goalkeeping coach Luigi Turci has warned Maduka Okoye that he must improve to keep his starting position at Udinese. The Italian believes the Nigeria international deserves another opportunity despite his costly mistake against Torino, Bold Sports reports.
Okoye has conceded 13 goals in six Serie A appearances this season. His latest outing ended in a 2-1 defeat to Torino on Monday, October 12. He made two saves but failed to prevent Sandro Kulenović from scoring the decisive goal. The result extended Udinese’s losing run to four consecutive matches.
Turci backs Okoye to start against Lecce
Okoye’s error against Torino has raised questions about his place in the Udinese starting lineup. The goalkeeper rushed off his line to deal with a long ball but collided with teammate Nicolò Bertola. Kulenović then capitalised on the confusion to score.
However, Turci believes dropping the Nigerian purely to punish him would be the wrong decision. He wants Udinese to maintain their confidence in the goalkeeper ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Lecce.
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“Because after a mistake like that, there’s no point in holding a goalkeeper to punish him,” he told Messaggero Veneto.
“Looking at it from the outside, Okoye must have the utmost confidence and be the starting player against Lecce, provided he’s calm, something Brunner and Marcon, who coach him, will evaluate.”
Turci’s comments offer some encouragement to the Super Eagles goalkeeper. Nevertheless, the former coach insists that Okoye must deliver consistent performances to justify his position.
Udinese goalkeeper must improve, Turci warns
Turci made it clear that the club cannot guarantee Okoye a permanent place without sustained improvement.
” It’s also clear that credit has a deadline, and he has to earn his keep, because if you don’t provide guarantees in the long run, there’s nothing written in the contract that says you can’t be replaced.”
The former goalkeeping coach also discussed Okoye’s potential and areas requiring improvement. He praised the Nigerian’s athletic qualities but questioned his technical development and decision-making.
“He’s potentially top-notch given his tremendous athleticism, but he’s still extremely raw and still needs a lot of work on his goalkeeping technique, which he’ll undoubtedly be working on with his coaches. Then there’s his ability to read certain situations, which can be trained up to a certain point, because then he’ll be on the pitch himself, even if you point out to him on video the situational aspects he needs to improve.”
Turci also highlighted Okoye’s personality as both an advantage and a potential weakness.
“It’s related. In his case, I think his character is both his strength and his weakness. It’s his strength, because he has personality and isn’t affected by anxiety, and his weakness, because this exaggerated bravado leads him to overdo it.”
Okoye’s Udinese future remains in his hands
Udinese signed Okoye from Watford in August 2023. His current contract runs until June 30, 2028.
The goalkeeper will now look to respond to criticism with stronger performances. His next opportunity could come against Lecce, when Udinese will hope to end their losing streak.
For the Nigerian, the challenge extends beyond recovering from one costly mistake. He must demonstrate greater consistency, improve his decision-making and convince his coaches that he remains the club’s best option in goal.
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