Besiktas boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has praised Wilfred Ndidi’s growing influence at the club following the Nigerian midfielder’s solid display in Thursday night’s UEFA Conference League play-off first leg, which ended 1-1 against Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland.
Wilfred Ndidi, who joined the Turkish giants this summer after eight successful years at Leicester City, slotted straight into the starting XI despite concerns over a minor knock sustained on his debut. His presence in midfield helped steady Besiktas in what proved to be a hard-fought contest.
The 27-year-old, a product of Nath Boys Academy in Lagos, arrived in Istanbul with the reputation of being one of the Premier League’s most reliable defensive midfielders.
Solskjaer, who knows him well from his days at Manchester United, believes Ndidi is already raising the standards within the squad.
“A couple of words about Wilfred, he has answered well for himself,” Solskjaer told reporters after the game. “You can see he is a very professional footballer, a great human being, and he gives us something we haven’t had before.
“I am very pleased to have him here, very pleased to have a leader like him, and I believe he will contribute a lot to the team in the coming months and years.”
Ndidi’s assured performance will be seen as a major boost for Besiktas as they prepare for the return leg in Istanbul next week, where Solskjaer’s men will be hoping to complete the job and secure a place in the group stages.
The post Solskjaer Hails Wilfred Ndidi’s Influence After Besiktas Draw With Lausanne-Sport appeared first on Naija News.