Xabi Alonso finds the new Courtois: “He has many similarities”
He Chelsea face this Saturday’s duel against Tottenham (6:30 p.m.) with an important novelty under the sticks. The injury to ‘Dibu’ MartÃnez, who had to undergo surgery for a broken jaw, opens the door for Mike Penders, the young 21-year-old Belgian goalkeeper who already left a good feeling in his debut in the Premier League.
Xabi Alonso took advantage of his press conference to praise the goalkeeper and compare him with Thibaut Courtois. “There are many similarities, not just the nationality. The height, they are both left-footed, they both dominate the aerial game,” explained the coach, who revealed a conversation with the current Real Madrid goalkeeper to find out his opinion about Penders. “I spoke to Thibaut when he was at the World Cup and I asked him about Mike. He himself said he saw a similarity.”
Alonso also wanted to make it clear that the club must accompany the young goalkeeper in this new stage. “We have to help him, support him. He is a goalkeeper for the present and for the future,” said the coach, who will have to trust the Belgian while ‘Dibu’ MartÃnez recovers from his injury. The Argentine’s loss gives Penders an important opportunity to show that he can compete at the highest level and establish himself in the Chelsea goal.
