Simon Mignolet not feeling the heat.
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is not feeling the pressure over his poor start to the season, report the Mirror, despite speculation mounting that the Reds could look to replace him with free agent Victor Valdes if the Belgian’s displays do not improve in the coming weeks.
Mignolet has kept just one clean sheet in eight matches for the Reds so far this season and has personally been criticised for a lack of confidence instilled in his defence and a reluctance to come off his line, whilst former Reds captain Jamie Carragher also felt that the former Sunderland stopper wasn’t making enough game-changing saves to help out his struggling side.
After Phil Jagielka’s late equaliser for Everton at the weekend, which Mignolet could do little about, Liverpool have been left with plenty of work to do if they are to qualify for the Champions League at the end of the season, let alone claw their way back into the title race.
Mignolet, however, remains relaxed about his personal situation, despite criticism in the media mounting:
“The only pressure is what you put yourself under.”
“What is pressure? Pressure is what is happening in Iraq at the moment when there is a war. That is pressure.”
The Belgian is almost certain to start once again for Liverpool this week as they face FC Basel in the Champions League, knowing that a win would make them huge favourites to quality for the last 16 after a nervy opening night victory against Bulgarian side Ludogorets Razgrad.