Turci supports Okoye to keep his starting role at Udinese

Former Udinese goalkeeper Luigi Turci has shown support for Nigeria's Maduka Okoye to keep his starting spot. This comes after Okoye made a costly mistake in the 2-1 loss to Torino.

Okoye faced backlash after his error led to Udinese’s defeat on Monday in Serie A. But Turci thinks the goalkeeper deserves another chance to make things right when they play Lecce on Sunday.

In an interview with Messaggero Veneto, Turci said that pulling Okoye from the lineup just to punish him would be a wrong move.

“After a mistake like that, there’s no point in holding a goalkeeper out to punish him,” Turci said.

“Looking at it from the outside, Okoye must have the utmost confidence and be the starting player against Lecce, provided he’s calm.”

But Turci also cautioned that Okoye needs to show consistent performances to keep his spot. He pointed out that the goalkeeper's position isn't secure forever.

“Credit has a deadline, and he has to earn his place, because if you don’t provide guarantees in the long run, there’s nothing written that says you cannot be replaced,” he added.

Turci highlighted areas for Okoye to improve. He praised Okoye's athletic skills but raised concerns about his technical development and decision-making in tough situations.

“Potentially, he is of a very high level because of his outstanding athleticism, but he is still extremely raw and needs to work considerably on the technical aspects of goalkeeping,” he said.

Turci suggested that Okoye’s confidence might sometimes be a double-edged sword. He explained that while it can be a strength, it can also be a weakness.

He pointed out that Okoye should not have intervened when teammate Nicolò Bertola was already handling the situation against Torino. He said that better communication and judgment are necessary.

As Udinese gears up to face Lecce, Okoye will be eager to bounce back. Turci believes that restoring Okoye's confidence, rather than punishing him immediately, could be the key to helping him regain his form.