Football pundit Jamie O’Hara has offered mixed opinions on Chelsea’s current season, highlighting both their strong performances and lingering vulnerabilities.
While commending the Blues for their solid start under Enzo Maresca, O’Hara expressed particular concern about goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, whom he labeled a significant weak link in the team.
Chelsea recently secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Leicester City, thanks to goals from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez.
The win kept Chelsea third in the Premier League standings, only a point behind Manchester City after Pep Guardiola’s side lost to Tottenham.
Despite this, O’Hara remains skeptical about Chelsea’s ability to sustain a title challenge, citing Sanchez’s inconsistent performances as a glaring issue.
Speaking on talkSPORT, O’Hara remarked, “Chelsea look good, but they’re still shaky at the back. Sanchez, the goalkeeper, is a massive problem. He’s terrible.
Teams that win the league don’t have bad goalkeepers. Every title-winning side has a top-class goalkeeper.”
His comments align with broader concerns from fans and analysts about Sanchez’s reliability between the posts.
The 26-year-old Spanish goalkeeper has faced criticism for several costly mistakes throughout the season, despite public backing from manager Enzo Maresca.
In the Leicester match, Sanchez was not heavily tested, as the Foxes struggled to pose a significant attacking threat.
However, former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and others have echoed O’Hara’s view, urging the club to find a more dependable option in goal.
Chelsea’s backup goalkeeper, Filip Jorgensen, is set to feature in their upcoming Conference League clash against Heidenheim, but Sanchez is expected to return for Sunday’s Premier League match against Aston Villa.
O’Hara’s remarks add to the growing sentiment that Chelsea needs a world-class goalkeeper to mount a serious title challenge.
O’Hara’s critique reflects a broader debate about the balance between Chelsea’s promising performances and their defensive frailties.
While their attacking setup and midfield have drawn praise, the lack of a commanding presence in goal remains a key concern.
As the January transfer window approaches, speculation may intensify regarding potential reinforcements for the Blues, particularly in the goalkeeping department.
Meanwhile, in another Premier League development, former Manchester United star Paul Scholes has weighed in on the situation at Old Trafford.
Scholes advised the club to part ways with a senior player reportedly unhappy under new manager Ruben Amorim.
Scholes emphasized that the player’s lack of motivation and struggles to adapt to Amorim’s tactical approach could harm team cohesion.
He urged the manager to exclude the player from future plans, suggesting that a January transfer would be the best resolution for both parties.
