Mike Penders save voted Premier League’s best

The Blues goalkeeper had competition from five others on the shortlist, but the public vote picked Penders’ save as the best in the Premier League during October.

The save which claimed the award came late in our 2-0 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, just one week after the 21-year-old’s full league debut. He showed quick reflexes and excellent agility to divert Bryan Mbeumo’s powerful drive onto the crossbar with his fingertips, keeping his clean sheet intact.

It wasn’t just the Premier League supporters casting their vote for the award who were so impressed by the Belgian’s reflexes, as he admitted that even some of his team-mates found it almost too good to believe.

‘The ball came so quickly, I didn’t even see it properly,’ said Penders on his award-winning stop.

‘It was just instinct, pure instinct, a reaction. I felt a good touch on my fingertips and, after that moment, I screamed all the positive emotions out. I had to, I was so happy with that moment.

‘Then, after the game, no-one believed me that I touched it! I was like: “Yeah, I touched it, you will see afterwards”.

‘Then it was pretty quickly on Twitter. A team-mate came into the dressing room saying: “He touched it”. I was very happy it was a good angle, because if the angle wasn’t right, they could still have some doubts!’

Penders becomes the third Chelsea goalkeeper to receive the Premier League Save of the Month award since it was introduced for the start of the 2022/23 season, following Kepa Arrizabalaga and Robert Sanchez (twice).

Congratulations, Mike!