Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca insisted he still “trusts” goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after a disastrous performance in Saturday’s defeat to Manchester City, but did not commit to blindly sticking with the error-prone Spaniard.
Sanchez didn’t shower himself with glory for City’s equalizer at the Etihad Stadium and failed to stop Matheus Nunes before the ball found its way to Josko Gvardiol just before half-time. However, the goalkeeper saved his biggest mistake for the second half.
After bizarrely rushing out of his penalty area to intercept a long ball across the goal line from Erling Haaland, Sanchez was unsure whether to go back to his goal line or run towards the ball. In the end he did neither and was expertly chipped by City’s ruthless number nine.
This isn’t Sanchez’s first misstep – no player in the Premier League has made more mistakes that directly led to goals than the 27-year-old’s five this season.
Man City takes a big step towards Champions League qualification while Chelsea slips further down the league! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/9x0QRTv9Js
— 90 Minutes (@90min_Football) January 25, 2025
Reflecting on the 3-1 defeat, a game in which Chelsea took a commanding lead after just three minutes, Maresca sighed: “We definitely trust Robert, but at the same time Robert is the first to know he makes mistakes.” . We are now a whole week old [to train] and we’ll see the reaction and decide on the next game.”
The Italian coach added: “Robert is definitely fully aware that he has to do better. He was fully aware after the game, he knows it perfectly.”
“The good thing is that he is the first to know that he has to do better.”
Maresca was keen to defend his goalkeeper against criticism this season, but warned in the days leading up to the weekend trip to the Etihad that the Spain international was “still far, far, far from where I want him”.
The Blues have regularly used Danish goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen in cup competitions this season. The 22-year-old newcomer from Villarreal only appeared in two Premier League games this season – and didn’t keep a clean sheet against either Southampton or Ipswich Town.
Chelsea have been tentatively linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, although no deal is expected this month. After Sánchez’s recent error-filled performance, Maresca may be inclined to demand a new number one sooner rather than later.
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