Drop Robert Sanchez? Enzo Maresca responds after Chelsea defeat to Man City | Football
Enzo Maresca insists he continues to ‘trust’ Robert Sanchez despite the goalkeeper’s mistake in Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.
Chelsea took an early lead as Nicolas Jackson capitalised on an error from City’s new £33.6 million signing Abdukodir Khusanov to give Noni Madueke a simple tap-in from close range.
City stepped up after going a goal behind and equalised through Josko Gvardiol shortly before half time.
The Premier League champions then went ahead in the 68th minute after another error from Sanchez.
The Chelsea goalkeeper raced out of his goal to win a long ball ahead of Erling Haaland but after realising he would lose the race, he was left stranded inside his penalty area and Haaland lofted the ball over the Spaniard to score.
Phil Foden then raced clear after being played in by Haaland and finished neatly to seal City’s 3-1 victory in the 87th minute.
Maresca is now facing fresh calls from Chelsea supporters to bench Sanchez following his mistake but the Italian says the goalkeeper could still keep his place in the team.
‘For sure, he is completely aware he has to do better,’ Maresca said after Chelsea’s defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
‘He was completely aware after the game, he knows perfectly. In this moment it’s like this.
‘The good thing is he’s the first one who knows he has to do better.’
Asked if he still trusts Sanchez, Maresca replied: ‘We trust Robert, for sure.
‘But in the same moment, as I said, the first one who is completely aware he’s making a mistake is Robert.
‘So for sure we continue to trust Robert, we trust Robert but now we have one entire week and we see the reaction and then we decide for the next game.’
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