Chelsea boss Maresca still trusts Sanchez despite latest mistake
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says he still trusts Robert Sanchez despite another error from the keeper in their 3-1 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday.
The Spaniard rushed out of goal with the scoreline at 1-1 in the 68th minute but was caught in no man’s land as he was lobbed by Erling Haaland for a chance that carried an initial xG (expected goal) of 0.03.
It was the fifth mistake Sanchez has made this season which has lead to a goal being conceded by the Blues. The 27-year-old also dropped a corner for Matt Doherty to equalise just before half-time during Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Wolves before the trip to The Etihad.
“Robert is completely aware that he has to do better,” said ex-Leicester boss Maresca. “He knows perfectly. The good thing is that he’s the first one who knows he has to do better.
“We trust Robert, for sure. We have one entire week and we will see the reaction. Then we will decide for the next game.”
Filip Jorgensen, who joined the Blues in the summer in a £20million deal from Villarreal, has acted as Sanchez’s deputy this season.
The Swedish stopper has only made two Premier League appearances this season but has been the first choice in cup competitions and has impressed.
Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast after the game, Gary Neville said: “We have to talk about the goalkeeper. That wouldn’t have been a goal if the goalkeeper wasn’t about 25 yards off his line at the edge of the box.
“What is he doing? It’s too important a position and Chelsea, at this point in time, are going to have to look at it. He’s making far too many errors – week in, week out. It was a mini turning point in the game.”
The pressure continued to build on the former Brighton keeper on the same day that Djordje Petrovic, who is on loan from Stamford Bridge at Strasbourg, was described as “world class” by boss Liam Rosenior.
Serbian Petrovic was number one under Mauricio Pochettino last term but was shipped off to France for the season by Maresca.
The 25-year-old has conceded 25 goals in 16 games and kept three clean sheets in the league.
“We have seen huge progress from Petro,” ex-Hull manager Rosenior said. “He is a world-class goalkeeper. We see it every day and it is still paying off today.”
After being involved in the early season conversation for the Premier League title, Maresca’s side have slipped to sixth in the table and 13 points away from leaders Liverpool.
Chelsea took the lead against Pep Guardiola’s side after three minutes through Noni Madueke, but City dominated the second half to claim all three points.
“We started very well,” said Marseca. “We scored the first one and could have scored the second one and then against this team and these players, the game is always open. We conceded at the end of the first half and then the second half was probably 50-50.
“Probably for me, the game is different if we scored the second one.
“We need to be better but also playing the way we play, we scored the first one and could have scored the second one. If we were able to score it, the game could have been very different for us.”
PICTURE: ALAMY