Udinese goalkeeper Daniele Padelli has publicly defended Nigerian international Maduka Okoye amid mounting criticism of the Super Eagles goalkeeper, insisting that it is unfair to hold him solely responsible for the Italian club’s disappointing performances this season.
Okoye has endured a difficult start to the 2026/27 campaign, with Udinese struggling for consistency in Serie A and currently sitting at the bottom of the league table. His performances have attracted growing scrutiny after conceding 25 goals and recording just one clean sheet in 11 league appearances.
However, Padelli believes the criticism directed at his Nigerian teammate overlooks the wider problems affecting the entire team, arguing that Udinese’s defensive shortcomings cannot be blamed on one individual.
Speaking during an appearance on TV12’s Udinese Tonight programme, the experienced Italian goalkeeper described the situation as one in which struggling teams often search for an individual to blame rather than confronting their collective weaknesses.
“In these situations, you look for a scapegoat. It has happened to everyone; it happened to me too,” Padelli said, as quoted by the club’s official website.
The 41-year-old stressed that Udinese must concentrate on rebuilding their collective identity instead of allowing criticism to divide the dressing room.
“We are trying to build a team identity, not focus on individuals. If they score, you struggle mentally, the spaces open up even more, and you struggle more and more,” he added.
Padelli’s intervention comes at a particularly difficult moment for Udinese, whose disappointing results have raised concerns about their ability to remain competitive in Italy’s top flight.
The club’s problems became more pronounced following their 2-1 defeat away to Venezia on November 6. The result left Udinese alone at the bottom of the Serie A standings, increasing pressure on the players and the technical team to deliver an immediate improvement.
The defeat also extended a damaging run of results that has affected the confidence of the squad. Having started the campaign with expectations of competing comfortably in the league, Udinese have instead found themselves struggling to translate their individual quality into consistent performances.
Padelli acknowledged that the team has not been entirely poor in every aspect of its performances, but admitted that conceding goals has become a major psychological burden.
“We are not doing everything poorly. We have created some things, but the ball is now very important. If the team is not playing well, even the individuals struggle,” he explained.
His comments suggest that Udinese’s defensive problems are not simply about the goalkeeper’s ability to make saves but also about the organisation, concentration and movement of the players in front of him.
Nevertheless, Okoye has not been entirely free from criticism. The Nigerian goalkeeper has made some costly mistakes during the campaign, including an error against Torino that contributed to his team’s defeat. His performances against Roma and Venezia have also attracted scrutiny.
His statistics underline the difficult nature of his season. In 11 league appearances, he has conceded 25 goals, made 42 saves from 67 shots on target and managed only one clean sheet. While those numbers reflect his individual struggles, they also raise questions about the defensive protection he has received from his teammates.
Last season, Okoye enjoyed a considerably better campaign, establishing himself as Udinese’s first-choice goalkeeper and earning recognition for his performances. His contribution helped the club secure a respectable position in the league, making the current decline particularly disappointing.
The Nigerian’s difficulties have also coincided with changes in Udinese’s technical department. The club recently parted ways with Kosta Runjaic and appointed Paolo Zanetti in an attempt to revive their season.
Padelli, however, was careful not to place the blame on the former manager, pointing to the impressive 94 points Udinese accumulated across two seasons under Runjaic.
The veteran goalkeeper admitted that something changed within the team after their encounter with Lazio, with a series of disappointing incidents gradually affecting the players’ confidence.
He believes the responsibility now rests with the players to respond to Zanetti’s methods and translate the manager’s instructions into improved performances on the pitch.
Padelli also emphasised the importance of defensive organisation, explaining that formations alone cannot solve a team’s problems if players fail to understand their responsibilities and maintain proper positioning.
Beyond the situation at club level, Okoye’s difficult spell has also attracted attention in Nigeria following his omission from Eric Chelle’s latest 24-man Super Eagles squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Tanzania.
The goalkeeper, who has earned 21 international caps for Nigeria, was left out of the selection, with Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho and Arthur Okonkwo included among the goalkeeping options.
His absence also follows an earlier controversy involving his arrival at Nigeria’s September international camp. Chelle had granted him permission to attend Udinese’s third-kit presentation during Milan Fashion Week but was reportedly unhappy with the goalkeeper’s late arrival.
For Okoye, the immediate priority will be to rediscover the confidence and consistency that previously made him an important figure for both club and country.
Padelli remains convinced that Udinese possess enough quality to recover from their disappointing position, insisting that the players must overcome their current mental fragility and approach the remaining fixtures with renewed determination.
“We need to get out of this moment of mental fragility. We need a breath of fresh air. I think this team is capable of recovering and having a good season. Luckily, we still have time,” he said.
With the Serie A campaign still offering opportunities for recovery, Udinese will need more than individual brilliance to escape their predicament. Their defensive organisation, collective discipline and ability to turn performances into results will be crucial.
For Okoye, Padelli’s public support offers encouragement at a difficult moment, but the Nigerian goalkeeper will understand that the most convincing response to his critics must come through his performances between the posts.
