Watford goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has said facing a striker one-on-one is what he loves the most and that he is not afraid to take risks.
The Nigerian international who joined Watford from Sparta Rotterdam in January, but was loaned back to the Dutch club for the remainder of the 2021/22 season has recently linked up with his new employers ahead of the upcoming season.
In an interview with Watford Observer, Okoye has said he loves facing attackers 1v1 and that he likes to be a presence in the air. He said:
“I love one-on-ones! For me there is nothing more beautiful than when a striker is in front of me and it’s me or him. I have to get the ball or fail.
“I like to be a presence in the air as well. I know the ball comes in the box a lot in the Championship and I enjoy that.
“Already in training we have started work on that aspect a lot. I’m happy to take a risk and come for the ball. It’s good to do that sometimes and not just play safe.”
Okoye continued that he is not scared to play with his feet as modern goalkeepers do. The 22-year-old added: “Having to play with the ball at your feet as a keeper is a lot about reading the game. It’s taking up the right position.
“I have no problem with the fact that being a goalkeeper in today’s football is about a lot more than keeping the ball out of the goal. As a keeper I need to control the whole box at all times, but also be prepared to take control when the ball is outside the box.”
When asked about the one goalkeeper he models his game on, Okoye named retired Brazilian and AC Milan legend Nélson de Jesus Silva, better known simply as Dida.
“When I was young I always wanted to be him [Dida]. I loved AC Milan back then and he was a legend, a real beast in goal. People did call me the ‘young version of Dida’, which I liked.”
