Town captain backs ‘scapegoat’ keeper to ‘come back stronger’

Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy believes goalkeeper Aro Muric has been made a scapegoat in recent weeks following the performances that led to Christian Walton replacing him.

The Kosovo international signed for the Blues from Burnley for £8 million in July and started every Premier League game from his debut at Manchester City on the second weekend of the season until Monday’s victory over Chelsea.

However, displays have been mixed and calls to replace Muric with Walton began intensifying after a string of mistakes against the likes of Brentford, Bournemouth and Newcastle United.

Sam Morsy believes goalkeeper Aro Muric has been made a scapegoat by some of Town’s fanbase but backed him to come back stronger Picture: Barry Goodwin

Muric has had the most errors leading to goals in the Premier League this season with five, two more than any other player in the division.

Morsy heaped praise on the patient Walton, who is expected to continue as the starting goalkeeper,and sympathised with Muric who he claims will recover strongly when he gets the opportunity.

“A clean sheet and a man of the match performance, it couldn’t have gone any better and it’s great for him,” Morsy said.

Kosovo international goalkeeper Aro Muric, 26, goes full stretch to make a save in the 1-1 home draw against Manchester United in November Picture: Barry Goodwin

“We’ve had that over the last couple of seasons with the goalkeeping situation and goalkeepers getting injured and others stepping in.

“I don’t think people understand the saves Aro has made, I think he’s become a little bit of a scapegoat amongst the fanbase. That’s not really what we’re looking for because he’s made some massive saves and kept us in games.

“It feels like a small section at most clubs if results don’t go well they want to put it on one player and blame him. When he gets his chance again he’ll come back really strong.

“Now Walts is going to continue his second game, he’s been really supportive of Aro and they’ve got a good relationship. He’s been training well and that’s the mantra of the club, you never know when it’s going to be your opportunity and he took it with both hands.

Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy has missed just two Premier League games this season, due to an injury (Brentford) and suspension (Arsenal) Picture: Barry Goodwin

“It was a great moment for him, his second game and he’ll be feeling really confident.”

Speaking further on Muric, whose clean sheet at Brighton and Hove Albion in September is widely viewed as one of the great goalkeeping performances, Morsy said: “He’s a popular member of the squad. He’s a really good guy and is working really hard to help and be the best he can.

“Being a goalie is probably the hardest position on the pitch, not only are you asked to make saves but playing with your feet as well. To get both of them to be exceptional you’re probably looking at the best goalie in the world.

Sam Morsy, who scored his only goal of the campaign away at Southampton, takes a shot in the 1-1 home draw against Manchester United Picture: Barry Goodwin

“It’s a big challenge but he’s done great and he’ll come back stronger for sure.”

Test at in-form Fulham awaits

Town travel to London to face Fulham on Sunday in what is their first match of 2025. The Blues are winless in their last eight meetings with the Cottagers but are yet to lose in their three Premier League meetings to date.

Marco Silva’s side are currently eighth in the table and enter this weekend’s clash off the back of a seven-game unbeaten streak that is currently bettered by only Liverpool and Arsenal.

“They’re a really good side,” Morsy said. “They’ve had some really good wins in the first half of the season and are doing well. They’ve got really good individual players, a physical and athletic team that are well coached.

“They’re a little bit of everything and are having a great season. But it’s up to us, our away form has been alright this season and we’re coming off the back of a big win so we have to believe and do our best to get something from the game.

“They’ve got good players all over. [Alex] Iwobi’s a really good player and is having a good season so we’ll have to pay him maximum respect. Antonee Robinson looks like the best left-back in the country at the minute so we’re going to have to do our best to try and nullify him.

“But they’ve got threats all over the pitch and are a really good team, so we’re going to have to be really organised. It’s going to have to be a real team effort doubling up and tripling up on players, that same hard work and humility against Chelsea and see where it takes us.”

Morsy captained United States international Robinson while the pair were together at Wigan Athletic, and the Town midfielder says the full-back will be a big threat at Craven Cottage this weekend.

He said: “He’s having a terrific season and he’s become one of the main attacking threats with seven assists. He’s flying so we’ll have to speak about it and get a plan to stop him because he’s having a brilliant season. I’m really happy for him.”

This weekend also marks the beginning of the second half of the season, with Fulham the first opposition the Blues have faced for a second time around.

The reverse fixture in August saw Town pick up their first Premier League point of the season, and Morsy believes his side were unfortunate not to claim more.

“It was a good game and we were probably a little bit unlucky not to have won,” the 33-year-old reflected. “It was a tough game against a proper Premier League team. But they’re at home now and are in great form so it will be a good game.”

Victory over Chelsea on Monday was a huge confidence boost for Kieran McKenna’s side, particularly when the calibre of the opposition includes some of the league’s most in-form players such as Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Moises Caicedo.

But Morsy knows the importance of staying grounded and immediately switching the focus to the matches ahead instead of spending too much time basking in the glory of results prior.

He said: “You have a day off after the win and when you come back to the training ground it’s important to focus on the next steps. It’s not about talking about the Chelsea win every day, you enjoy it and debrief it and that’s that.

“You then continue the dialogue of how we’re going to get better and how we’re going to beat Fulham. We know the position we are in the division so we won’t be getting too high off any win.

“You can go in full of confidence thinking it’s going to be okay and you’ll be humbled pretty fast. We’ve got to go in and approach it as a really tough game, which it is because they’re a really good side.

“Off the back of the win we know on our day we’re capable of beating anyone. As usual in a Premier League game you need a mixture of a lot of things, but the main thing is how hard we can work, the effort and showcase the best of ourselves. We’ll see if it’s enough to get anything from the game.”

Morsy has started 17 of the Blues’ 19 league fixtures so far this season, only missing out at Brentford through a minor hamstring injury and against Arsenal through suspension.

The Egypt international says the fight for places in the heart of Town’s midfield is a testament to the quality of players at McKenna’s disposal, which include Kalvin Phillips, Jens Cajuste, Jack Taylor and Massimo Luongo.

“It’s the strongest it’s been since I’ve been at the club by far, only two players can play and everyone’s competing,” Morsy said.

“That’s going to be a really big strength of ours for the second half of the season because football is never straight forward with injuries, suspensions and form, so we need to keep that part of the team firing and that will help the team.”

Cajuste in particular has become one of the first names on the team sheet over the last few months having grown into the season following his arrival on loan from Italian giants Napoli in August, and Morsy has been particularly pleased with the Sweden international’s performances.

He said: “I’ve been really impressed. He’s getting better every week and he’s had some outstanding games. He’s come from a different country so he’s adapting to a new culture and a new way of football but I think he’s done brilliantly well.

“He’s a great kid, he keeps improving and hopefully he can keep getting better.

“He’s growing and his confidence is getting better all the time and there’s some excellent coaches here to help him get better. He’s added more bits to his game and you can see he’s really enjoying it.

“A lot of the time if you’re really enjoying your football you are going to play your best, so long may that continue.

“I’ve always looked at any midfielder I’ve played with or on the training ground and there’s always things you can take. The slight nuances of maybe how they move or how they receive the ball or whatever it may be.

“It’s always a learning curve, you can always learn from good players and it’s great to have him here.”

Another player who has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water is swashbuckling centre-forward Liam Delap.

The striker’s latest display against Chelsea has taken him to seven goals and two assists in the Premier League this season.

Of Delap, Morsy said: “He’s had a brilliant first half of the season. His parents have raised him really well – he’s really grounded, really humble, works hard, takes advice and he’s doing great.

“From the start of the season to now he’s improving all the time. He’s such a goal threat, he’s getting better and better and that’s the form we’re going to need him in.”

Morsy received his fifth booking of the season against Newcastle last month which ruled him out of the Christmas trip to the Emirates Stadium.

On his suspension, he added: “There’s always that element of the rest side, especially with games coming up thick and fast but I’m experienced enough to know how to deal with those.

“In the younger years you might be disappointed but as you get older you realise it’s part of the game. It’s just to stay focused, don’t take your eye off the ball and be ready