Alessandro Zampahistoric goalkeeping coach for Udinese, gave an interview to Messaggero Veneto to talk about Maduka Okoye, the Friulian goalkeeper who committed an important mistake against Bologna: “It’s due to inexperience. It doesn’t take anything away from his value and his certainties that he will be able to give to the team in the sprint to salvation. It’s a venial sin, a youthful mistake, it’s clear that he was attracted to the ball and went looking for it starting from the wrong position.”
Was there a foul on Okoye?
“No, because the regulation says that a foul occurs only if in the contact there is a push with disproportionate force, while Okoye was not hindered in his intervention. I believe that the referee and VAR considered the contact irrelevant, as it is irrelevant to the outcome of the action”.
Will Okoye be changed and end up on the bench like Silvestri?
“No. Firstly because at the time Silvestri was suffering from some situations that were repeating themselves, and secondly because at the moment the team needs certainties, and changing the goalkeeper now would take away the certainties that have formed in the team. Silvestri could have a load of tension and greater stress, always depends on how he has metabolised the bench, while for Okoye the help of the staff and his teammates will be enough during the week, because this is a mistake that came out of nowhere and which takes nothing away from his value, even in perspective The boy has personality, he’s good between the posts, and he will improve the low outputs with work.”