Why Robert Sanchez is about for an additional probability as Chelsea No 1 regardless of the membership signing Filip Jorgensen | Soccer Information

For brand new Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca, checking out the goalkeeper state of affairs was not goal No 1, but it surely was excessive up on the listing.

“For positive, the way in which we wish to play, the goalkeeper may be very, crucial,” mentioned the Italian after Chelsea’s first pre-season sport of the season, a 2-2 draw with Wrexham. “It is without doubt one of the most important positions.”

Usually when a brand new supervisor is available in, he brings in gamers he needs by means of the switch market. And Chelsea have certainly acted by signing Villarreal’s Filip Jorgensen.

However Jorgensen doesn’t look like the answer, but. Regardless of the cash invested in a brand new face, it’s understood Robert Sanchez is about to start the brand new season as Chelsea’s No 1 goalkeeper. Chelsea need Jorgensen to come back in as a backup however with the expectation that he can rival Sanchez.

From the outset, sticking with Sanchez appears a shock. The Spaniard had a troublesome first season at Stamford Bridge final time period, wanting unconvincing initially of the season earlier than his marketing campaign succumbed to damage.

The damage woe, plus the spectacular shows of stand-in Djordje Petrovic, meant Sanchez’s closing look of final season got here in early December. However due to the brand new supervisor, he is again as first selection, for now.

Maresca’s particular goalkeeping fashion will not be that of a standard goalkeeper. If something, it’s extra like outfield participant.

One of the best ways to have a look at what Maresca needs is thru his time at Leicester final season. Maresca signed Mads Hermansen as his first-choice goalkeeper – and needed him at Chelsea this summer season just for the Foxes to cost the Blues out of a transfer.

Hermansen will not be a shot stopper who solely performs between the sticks. Final season, he could be tasked with entering into the again 4 and appearing as one other defender within the build-up. The Danish goalkeeper would successfully transfer out of his web and quickly act as an outfield participant.

Chelsea didn’t have that choice final season given how deep and conventional Petrovic was. It might clarify why the Serbian is deemed surplus to necessities at Stamford Bridge forward of the brand new season.

The identical, nevertheless, couldn’t be mentioned for Sanchez, who suits the mould of a Maresca goalkeeper resulting from his profile.

Even in his injury-hit season, the 26-year-old made extra touches, passes and fewer errors than team-mate Petrovic – he appeared somewhat extra comfy on the ball.

The Spaniard additionally performed simply that little bit greater than Petrovic final season, albeit marginally. However these margins might have been key within the new Chelsea supervisor’s decision-making.

Even then, Sanchez has all the time performed as an ‘superior goalkeeper’ since his youth days. When Brighton’s then-head of recruitment Mark Anderson travelled over to Spain to scout him, it was one of many first issues he noticed.

“He was 100 per cent like that further centre-back and additional defender,” Anderson tells Sky Sports activities. “Individuals typically overlook that they are one of many solely gamers who sees the opposite 21 gamers in entrance of them. The others do not see that.

“Robert performs correctly – an enormous proportion of his sport is taking part in together with his toes. The trendy-day goalkeepers very hardly ever contact the ball with their fingers, until it is coming from crosses or shot-stopping, however even then they are going to cease it with any a part of their physique.

“He performs with a centre-back’s mentality, and even that of a right-back or left-back. He can go both method: proper left, centre, lengthy or quick. He is versatile and he can regulate to that.”

And even Sanchez himself recognises why he is Maresca’s first selection for the second. “It is a totally different fashion. The goalkeeper right here must ‘have a pair’ and present a little bit of character. I believe I’m the proper man for that,” he advised talkSPORT this month.

“[It’s about] simply being a bit totally different to what a standard goalkeeper is like, you must have a little bit of conceitedness, maintain the ball, present a bit, and like I mentioned ‘have a pair’ and present a little bit of high quality.”

“I’ve seen Robert put the ball on a penny, and he reads the play actually early,” provides Anderson. “However whereas he is nonetheless creating, like every goalkeeper, he does have a mistake in him.” And there’s the primary concern with this fashion of play.

Any mistake in taking part in out of the again will possible go punished. Sanchez himself is aware of that full nicely. Final October, his sloppy move out in opposition to Arsenal was intercepted by Declan Rice who swept residence, because the Gunners got here from 2-0 to assert a 2-2 draw again at Chelsea final season.

That mistake was his solely error resulting in a objective final season, however then once more the identical goalkeeper was dropped by Roberto de Zerbi at Brighton as a result of Jason Steele was higher at passing beneath strain. Different nervy moments, together with a number of within the 4-1 loss to Celtic, have been clipped up on social media.

This might be the place new signing Jorgensen is available in. The 22-year-old, who ranked third amongst LaLiga goalkeepers for accomplished passes, could also be lined up as back-up in case Sanchez’s misgivings return.

However whereas Sanchez is conscious of the ball-playing dangers, so is Maresca. His Chelsea facet gifted two objectives to Wrexham through taking part in out the again in his first pre-season match in cost, however the Italian was bullish about his philosophy.

“It is without doubt one of the dangers that you’ve making an attempt to construct from behind,” he mentioned when requested concerning the objectives Chelsea conceded. “I believe you’re going to concede in several methods, so you must resolve during which method you must concede a objective.

“Typically groups that attempt to construct from the again concede objectives however I believe you’re going to rating greater than you concede.”

And even then, Sanchez will not be the one participant attending to grips with a Maresca-style set-up, given final week the Italian accused his total staff of being “confused” as they try to stand up to hurry with the philosophy.

Like most fashionable managers, Maresca is making ready Chelsea to play with 11 outfield gamers, not 10 – with Sanchez set to be simply as concerned in his staff placing the ball in a single web as he’s protecting it out of the opposite.

Truly saving the ball is secondary to the power to play successfully together with your toes. In spite of everything, Jorgensen arrives at Stamford Bridge having made extra saves than any LaLiga goalkeeper. Even then, he confronted probably the most pictures, and Sanchez’s saving numbers are at an analogous stage.

Goalkeepers begin the plan of assault from the again – and it might clarify why the current Premier League success tales have all began when the No 1 state of affairs is sorted.

Manchester Metropolis received titles beneath Pep Guardiola as soon as Ederson was signed in 2017, Liverpool got here a serious drive as quickly as Alisson Becker got here by means of the door a yr later. Arsenal’s development sky-rocketed following the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale, then David Raya.

So it’s no shock Maresca is tackling this concern as he begins his Chelsea revolution.