Alonso: Penders is ready to be Chelsea keeper
Xabi Alonso insists Mike Penders is ready to step in for Chelsea with Emi Martinez out injured.
The 21-year-old made his Premier League debut as a substitute in last weekend’s 2-0 win at Everton after Martinez was carried off following a collision with Jarrad Branthwaite. That made him Chelsea’s youngest Premier League goalkeeper.
Penders, who has also played in the cups this season, is expected to play in Saturday’s derby against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
“He’s ready,” said Alonso. “He’s been training well and he’s played a couple of cup games where he showed that he has a good level.
“Even the other day when he came on against Everton for a few minutes, he showed his personality and his qualities.
“That’s why we have a squad – to be ready for these kinds of situations – and we are fully convinced that Mike can play very well.”
Chelsea brought in Martinez in the summer, and Alonso explained that the move was about strengthening a key position rather than any doubts about Penders.
“We wanted to have the best possible options,” he said. “We considered that it was a position we could improve, and we could improve it with a goalkeeper of Emi’s stature.
“It was not an easy decision to take in such an important position as goalkeeper, but we checked, we analysed and we decided it was the right one. We are happy with it.
“I think we have a good balance. Mike is a keeper for now and for the future, and he has the support of an experienced goalkeeper in Emi, who is having a great impact on the team and on Mike.”
Penders has drawn comparisons with fellow Belgian Thibaut Courtois, who won two Premier League titles with Chelsea before joining Real Madrid, where he played under Alonso.
Alonso sees plenty of similarities between the two, and says he discussed Penders with Courtois during the World Cup.
“There are a lot – not just the nationality but the stature,” he said. “Both are left-footed and both are dominant in the air.
“I spoke with Thibaut when he was at the World Cup, asking about Mike, and he said himself that he could see the resemblance.
“We need to help him and support him, but for sure he’s a keeper for the present and for the future.”
Martinez had surgery after the Everton game and has said he expects to be back in a few weeks.
“He’s doing better,” Alonso said. “Day by day he’s feeling better, but we still need to wait. Considering it was a bad one, he’s doing well.”
