Jamie O’Hara has commended Chelsea’s impressive start to the season but has also identified goalkeeper Robert Sanchez as a major vulnerability in their lineup.
The former footballer didn’t hold back in his critique, describing the Spanish international as a “massive problem” for the Blues.
Chelsea secured an important 2-1 victory against Leicester City over the weekend, with Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez finding the back of the net. This result cemented Chelsea’s position in third place in the Premier League standings, bringing them within a point of second-placed Manchester City, who were defeated by Tottenham.
Despite their positive results, concerns persist about the team’s defensive stability, particularly regarding Sanchez’s performances.
At 26, Sanchez has been under scrutiny for much of the season due to several errors that have cost the team points. Manager Enzo Maresca has publicly supported his first-choice goalkeeper, but fans and pundits remain unconvinced. Sanchez had a relatively quiet outing against Leicester, with the Foxes failing to pose much of an attacking threat. However, this hasn’t deterred criticism of his overall form.
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has also echoed these concerns, suggesting the club needs a more reliable figure between the posts if they are to challenge for top honors. Speaking on talkSPORT, O’Hara didn’t mince his words: “Chelsea are doing well, but they’re still shaky at the back. Sanchez is a massive problem for them.
He’s simply not good enough. You can’t win the league with a subpar goalkeeper. Every team that has won the title in recent years has had a world-class player in that position.”
O’Hara’s remarks reflect a broader consensus that Chelsea must resolve their issues in goal to maintain their momentum and compete for the Premier League title. While Sanchez remains the preferred option in the league, backup goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is set to feature in Chelsea’s upcoming UEFA Conference League match against Heidenheim. Despite this, Sanchez is likely to return to the starting lineup when Chelsea face Aston Villa on Sunday.
As Chelsea strive to stay in contention at the top of the table, addressing their defensive fragility, particularly in goal, will be crucial. Whether through improving Sanchez’s consistency or seeking reinforcements in the transfer market, the Blues will need to bolster this area if they are serious about ending the season with silverware.
