Enzo Maresca has reiterated his faith in Robert Sanchez, despite the goalkeeper’s error playing a pivotal role in Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.
Chelsea initially looked promising, taking the lead after Nicolas Jackson exploited a mistake by City’s £33.6 million signing, Abdukodir Khusanov.
Jackson’s quick thinking set up Noni Madueke for a straightforward finish, putting Chelsea ahead early in the game.
However, City responded with determination. Josko Gvardiol equalized just before halftime, and the momentum shifted further in City’s favor in the 68th minute due to a misjudgment from Sanchez.
The Chelsea goalkeeper charged off his line to challenge Erling Haaland for a long ball but miscalculated, allowing Haaland to loft the ball over him and score.
City sealed the victory in the 87th minute when Haaland assisted Phil Foden, who calmly slotted the ball past Sanchez to confirm their 3-1 triumph.
Sanchez’s mistake has led to increasing calls from Chelsea fans for him to be benched, but Maresca remains steadfast in his support.
Speaking after the match, the manager emphasized Sanchez’s awareness of his error.
“He knows he has to improve,” Maresca stated. “The positive thing is that he’s fully aware of what went wrong and takes responsibility for it.”
When questioned about his trust in Sanchez, Maresca was firm. “We trust Robert, absolutely. He’s aware of his mistakes, and now we’ll focus on his response over the next week before deciding on the lineup for our next match.”
Despite the defeat, Maresca’s comments suggest that Sanchez might still have a chance to redeem himself as Chelsea prepares for their upcoming fixture.