- Enzo Maresca has had an impressive start to his tenure as Chelsea manager, but one decision he made continues to stir debate among fans and football experts.
Maresca took charge of the Blues this summer, succeeding Mauricio Pochettino, and has quickly made an impact, guiding the team to second place in the Premier League and top spot in their Europa Conference League group.
While the Italian manager has successfully transformed a young Chelsea squad into a competitive force, his choice regarding the club’s goalkeeper remains a source of controversy.
Before the season began, Maresca made the decision to appoint Robert Sanchez as his first-choice goalkeeper, even though Chelsea had just signed Filip Jorgensen, a highly-rated 22-year-old from Villarreal.
The move surprised some, especially given the considerable expectations surrounding Jorgensen, who was seen as a promising talent with great potential. However, Maresca’s preference for Sanchez, who was brought in from Brighton, has been met with criticism.
The 27-year-old Spanish keeper has faced scrutiny for his performances, particularly his struggles with playing out from the back and his tendency to make costly mistakes.
Despite these concerns, Maresca has shown unwavering support for Sanchez, who has started every Premier League match this season, except one.
This decision has raised questions about Maresca’s judgment, especially from pundits like Jamie Carragher, who has warned that sticking with Sanchez could hinder Chelsea’s progress and ambitions.
Carragher’s concern is rooted in Sanchez’s perceived limitations, particularly in terms of his ball distribution and ability to command his area, qualities that are crucial in modern football. The decision to back Sanchez, despite these ongoing issues, has left some fans and analysts scratching their heads, questioning whether it could ultimately harm Chelsea’s chances of achieving their goals this season.
Ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming clash with Brentford, Maresca reaffirmed his trust in Sanchez, stating that there were no plans to make a change in goal. “The idea is not to change, we trust Robert,” Maresca said in his press conference, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
He also noted that Chelsea had two good goalkeepers, suggesting that both Sanchez and Jorgensen were capable, but he was happy with the current setup as long as Sanchez maintained his level of performance.
Maresca’s continued faith in Sanchez suggests that the goalkeeper will remain in the starting lineup for the foreseeable future, despite the ongoing debate surrounding his performances.
Whether this decision will prove to be a decisive factor in Chelsea’s season—either positively or negatively—remains to be seen. For now, Maresca is sticking to his guns, confident in his choice as he looks to maintain Chelsea’s momentum in both domestic and European competitions.
