According to a report by The Chelsea Chronicle on Sunday, November 1, 2026, Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia has revealed that his teammates are impressed with Mike Penders' development following the young goalkeeper's outstanding performance in their 2-0 Premier League victory over Manchester United.

Lavia explained that Penders' improvement has become a regular subject of conversation among Chelsea players, particularly because of the progress he has demonstrated during training sessions at the club's facilities.

The Belgian goalkeeper has recently faced increased responsibility after being given an opportunity to feature following Emi Martinez's injury. Although his performances have attracted attention, he has also experienced difficult moments while adjusting to his responsibilities as Chelsea's first-choice goalkeeper.

Penders came under criticism after making an expensive mistake during the encounter against Tottenham Hotspur. However, the 21-year-old responded positively against Manchester United, producing a confident display to help Chelsea secure an important victory at Stamford Bridge.

The goalkeeper made three crucial saves during the match, helping his team record their second Premier League clean sheet of the season. His interventions were particularly important in preventing Manchester United from finding a way back into the contest.

One of his most impressive moments came when he reacted quickly to Bryan Mbeumo's powerful effort, producing an excellent fingertip save that redirected the ball onto the crossbar. The intervention demonstrated his sharp reflexes and ability to deal with dangerous attempts.

Standing at 6ft 7in, Penders also used his physical presence effectively, showing composure whenever Manchester United threatened Chelsea's goal.

Speaking after the match, Lavia expressed satisfaction with the goalkeeper's progress and confirmed that his development had not gone unnoticed by other members of the squad. The midfielder suggested that the improvement Penders has shown in training has encouraged his teammates.

His statistical performance also provided further evidence of his contribution. According to the available match figures, Penders completed 19 of his 25 passes and recorded a 40 per cent success rate with long balls, completing four out of 10 attempts.

Interestingly, Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens registered eight saves, compared with Penders' three. Nevertheless, the Chelsea youngster demonstrated confidence and composure when his services were required.

His latest performance will be encouraging for manager Xabi Alonso as Chelsea continue managing Martinez's absence. Penders will now hope to maintain his form and strengthen his position as the club's preferred goalkeeper while the Argentine continues his recovery.