Robert Sanchez has come under heavy criticism following his costly mistake against Manchester United, but Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has made it clear he still has full confidence in his goalkeeper.
Sanchez was widely blamed for Chelsea’s defeat at Old Trafford last week, with his early red card in the fifth minute throwing the team’s game plan into disarray.
His decision-making during the match was heavily scrutinized. Maresca even admitted that Sanchez might’ve been better off allowing Bryan Mbeumo to take his one-on-one chance rather than committing the foul that led to the sending off.
While Maresca himself faced questions over some of his early substitutions in that match, Sanchez took the brunt of the criticism, with many questioning whether he's the right man to help Chelsea compete at the top of the Premier League.
Speculation around his future has resurfaced, especially since Chelsea were reportedly in the market for a new goalkeeper last summer and linked with AC Milan’s Mike Maignan.
But Maresca remains calm and supportive.
“Robert has been very good for us over a long period,” he said. “He was fantastic towards the end of last season and at the start of this one.”
“He made a mistake against Manchester United, and he knows that. But as I’ve said before, when a goalkeeper makes an error or a midfielder makes one, it’s all part of the game.”
“We’re happy with Robert. We’re happy with Filip too. There’s absolutely no issue with Robert,” Maresca added, as quoted by the BBC.
