Runjaic Defends Okoye After Udinese’s Heavy Defeat to Fiorentina
Udinese head coach Kosta Runjaic has refused to blame Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye for his side’s 5–1 defeat to Fiorentina, but admitted he was unhappy with how the team collapsed after going down to ten men.
Udinese went into the match hoping to secure a seventh league win that would move them into the top half of the Serie A table before Christmas. They started brightly and were in control early on, but the game changed in the eighth minute when Okoye was sent off.
The Nigerian goalkeeper rushed out of his area to stop Fiorentina forward Moise Kean, who was through on goal. Okoye caught Kean during the challenge and was shown a straight red card by referee Maurizio Mariani, without the need for VAR review.
After Udinese were reduced to ten men, Fiorentina took full advantage and went on to record a 5–1 victory. The win was Fiorentina’s first league success of the season after failing to win any of their first 15 Serie A matches.
Speaking after the game, Runjaic defended Okoye but criticised his team’s response to the early dismissal.
“We played well in the first five minutes and Fiorentina were struggling, but then we gave them a big gift with the red card,” Runjaic said. “Mistakes happen, but even with ten men you can still play well and win.”
He added: “I’m disappointed with our reaction. We conceded too easily and went into half-time 3–0 down against a team fighting to survive. That made it very difficult to come back. It’s a shame for our fans, but we will try to respond against Lazio.”
The defeat leaves Udinese in 12th place on the Serie A table. They will be without Okoye when they host Lazio at the Stadio Friuli on 27 December.
