Now World ViewChelsea star has just been dropped for the final time as Enzo Maresca makes controversial decision
Sign up to the free Chelsea newsletter for the latest Blues news straight to your inbox
More Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!
We have more newsletters
Show me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28
Sign up to the free Chelsea newsletter for the latest Blues news straight to your inbox
Invalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!
We have more newsletters
Show MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy Notice
It took nine minutes for Robert Sanchez to give away his first pass of the afternoon. From inside his box a wayward ball out to the right side fell in-field to Gabriel Martinelli. He cut onto his right foot and shot.
Sanchez just about atoned for the error but still spilled the ball which had been hit right at him. It set the tone for most of his performance.
Two minutes later Sanchez was flapping around after Jurrien Timber's cutback deflected goalwards after a failed clearance and a scramble involving Martinelli. Stumbling backwards, Sanchez stuck an arm out and palmed the ball into the centre of the box. Declan Rice went on to fire over from his half-volley.
That is Sanchez in a nutshell right now. He was introduced back into the Premier League XI last weekend at home to Leicester City after four weeks on the sidelines.It was his mistake – coming out into no man’s land away at Manchester City – which forced Maresca’s hand in the first place.
Sanchez kept a clean sheet having done very little on the day but was involved in Leicester's best moment when he dived at full length and nearly allowed a cross to divert onto Tosin Adarabioyo and onto his crossbar. At that point Maresca was quiet on whether the tables had completely turned but when Filip Jorgensen got the nod on Thursday against Copenhagen the writing was on the wall.
Maresca has remained firm that he believes there are two quality goalkeepers in his squad. His actions say very different things. Sanchez has made more errors leading to goals than any other player in the league this season and Jorgensen is not deemed to be more suitable than him.
Read More
Related Articles
- I saw what Enzo Maresca did vs Arsenal – Moises Caicedo and Mikel Arteta are wrong about Chelsea
Read More
Related Articles
- Chelsea’s toughest Premier League games compared to Man City, Newcastle and top five rivals
Read More
Related Articles
- Chelsea approach Enzo Maresca point of no return as Arsenal expose cold reality
That says a lot for the situation Chelsea are in. Sanchez has also made the most errors resulting in an opposition shot. The flip-side is that he is capable of making brilliant saves.
He showed this in the second half when denying Mikel Merino a second. He has won the Premier League's Save of the Month competition twice and does have an impressive highlights reel. The issue is that he is not reliable enough to build from.
Mauricio Pochettino came to this conclusion last season and stuck with Djordje Petrovic even when Sanchez returned from an injury in December. Maresca opted to make Jorgensen his No.1 following a run of blunders from Sanchez at the start of 2025.
Jorgensen himself was culpable for Aston Villa's winner in the last minute when he let Marco Asensio's shot slip under his body, throwing away a point. He has since been relegated back to being the Conference League and rotation goalkeeper.
The reality is that neither are good enough.Sanchez does not inspire any confidence in his teammates and has well and truly lost the support of the fanbase at Stamford Bridge. Jorgensen was jeered when taking his time in possession at the start of the 4-0 win over Southampton, although that appeared to be aimed towards the general style rather than his own personal struggles.
Sanchez is now back in place and there is no clear reason why Jorgensen has been displaced. "I think he [Jorgensen] did a good game," Maresca said following Sunday's result. "He did some good saves. With his feet, in some moments he was quite good and in some moments he struggled a little bit. But overall, I think his performance was quite good."
Analysing Merino's goal, Sanchez could be criticised for being in a tussle with the red shirts in front of him less than one second before the header comes his way. By that stage he has taken a step towards his goal but is not in a position to move his feet quickly enough to make a save.
Chelsea's defending of the front post is a bigger issue than Sanchez in this exact moment but his preoccupation with those around him rather than protecting the goal is notable. With the uncertainty that follows him, this sort of scrutiny is only natural.
Chopping and changing goalkeepers is rarely a good sign. It does not historically tend to work when there are two genuine No.1s and is only exposed more when the quality is missing.
Chelsea now have two No.2s and cannot settle on either. With only nine Premier League games it is Sanchez's spot to lose but another shift isn't going to benefit anyone. For now the bed has been made and Maresca will have to lay in it, accepting to consequences of his actions.
football.london Chelsea WhatsApp channel
Want to keep up to date with the breaking and important Chelsea stories whilst on the move? Well now you can!
Click this link to follow the football.london Chelsea WhatsApp channel, where you’ll be kept up to date on the latest Blues news wherever you are.
Just remember to turn on the notifications once you've followed, and you won't miss a beat!
Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow Football LondonFacebookX (Twitter)CommentMore On
- Arsenal vs Chelsea
- Robert Sanchez
- Filip Jorgensen
- Enzo Maresca
