Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye has stressed the importance of Udinese ending the Serie A campaign on a positive note after a tough run of results.
Okoye, who has enjoyed a resurgence in Italy following a difficult spell at Watford, believes the team must regroup and focus on finishing inside the top half of the table.
The 25-year-old has slowly rebuilt his reputation since joining Udinese, recapturing the form that once made him a standout performer at Sparta Rotterdam.
Udinese suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at home to AC Milan last weekend, marking their fourth consecutive loss in the league.
Despite the recent slump, the team remains safe from relegation and currently sits 11th on the Serie A table.
Speaking to TuttoUdinese, Okoye acknowledged the poor results but remained optimistic about a strong end to the season.
“The goal is to maintain tenth place, we need to regain our heads and strength. We are angry, but in the four defeats we had some opportunities, there are many things that we did well and we need to start again from those,” he said.
Okoye has featured in 19 league matches for Udinese this season, keeping three clean sheets and posting a save percentage of 66.3%.
While the numbers may not be outstanding, his performances have often kept the Zebras competitive in difficult games.
Udinese’s remaining fixtures offer them a chance to bounce back, with games against Torino, Bologna, Cagliari, Monza, Juventus, and Fiorentina.
With a relatively manageable schedule, the team is still aiming for a top-ten finish, a goal that looked more achievable earlier in the season.
For Okoye, these final games will be crucial in solidifying his place as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper going into next season and potentially earning a recall to the Super Eagles squad ahead of the Unity Cup in May.
