Jamie Carragher didn’t hold back in his criticism of Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez following a costly mistake during the Blues’ 3-1 victory over Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.
Despite an overall solid performance and goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Cucurella, and Noni Madueke securing the win, Sanchez’s blunder took center stage.
The error came late in the first half when Sanchez misjudged a routine catch from Matheus Cunha’s corner under pressure from Santiago Bueno.
The ball slipped from his grasp, allowing Matt Doherty to score from close range and temporarily bring Wolves back into the game.
Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, suggested Sanchez isn’t cut out for top-tier football. “Every set-piece now involves players trying to block the goalkeeper, but Sanchez had time to deal with it. He should just punch the ball away.
He’s a Premier League goalkeeper—it’s not a foul. This is something we’d expect from a keeper at a bottom-half team, not one playing for Chelsea,” Carragher remarked.
Former Chelsea player Emmanuel Petit agreed, calling out Sanchez’s poor decision-making. “I can’t understand why he didn’t punch the ball,” Petit said.
“He was under pressure and too close to his line to try catching it. If you want to guarantee safety, just punch it—it’s basic goalkeeping.”
Match commentator Alan Smith also criticized the Chelsea keeper, labeling the mistake as a glaring error.
“Sanchez had little to do during the match, yet when it mattered most, he fumbled a standard catch, allowing Doherty to capitalize.”
While Chelsea claimed a much-needed win, the spotlight remains on Sanchez’s ability to handle high-pressure moments. This latest blunder raises fresh doubts about whether he is the long-term solution in goal for the Blues.