Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has expressed his belief that young keeper Mike Penders closely resembles Thibaut Courtois. The Spanish tactician, who has previously worked with Courtois at Real Madrid, has noted that the acclaimed shot-stopper concurs with this comparison after training alongside Penders in the Belgium national squad.
They are very similar, and not just because of nationality or height. They’re both left-footed and dominant in the air,
Alonso stated ahead of Chelsea's clash with Tottenham, where Penders is set to make his Premier League debut in the starting XI.
Alonso elaborated on his conversation with his compatriot:
I spoke to Thibaut during the World Cup and asked him about Mike. He mentioned that he sees the similarities.
The coach highlighted that the 21-year-old has already made a name for himself in cup competitions and performed admirably in the recent 2-0 victory against Everton, stepping in for the injured Emiliano Martinez. It’s worth noting that both Courtois and Penders are products of Belgian club Genk, having made their moves to Chelsea at a young age. Now the Blues are hopeful that Penders will become their number one for many years to come.
