Why Robert Sanchez is about for an additional likelihood as Chelsea No 1 regardless of the membership signing Filip Jorgensen

For brand spanking new Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca, finding out the goalkeeper scenario was not goal No 1, however it was excessive up on the listing.

“For positive, the way in which we wish to play, the goalkeeper could be very, essential,” stated the Italian after Chelsea’s first pre-season recreation of the season, a 2-2 draw with Wrexham. “It is likely one of the essential positions.”

Usually when a brand new supervisor is available in, he brings in gamers he desires via 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 return 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, trying unconvincing at first 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 alternative, for now.

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

One of the best ways to take a look at what Maresca desires is thru his time at Leicester final season. Maresca signed Mads Hermansen as his first-choice goalkeeper – and wished 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 can be tasked with entering into the again 4 and performing as one other defender within the build-up. The Danish goalkeeper would successfully transfer out of his internet and briefly 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 stated for Sanchez, who matches the mould of a Maresca goalkeeper attributable to 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 a bit of extra comfy on the ball.

The Spaniard additionally performed simply that little bit larger 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 at all times 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 generally neglect 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 share of his recreation is enjoying along with his toes. The fashionable-day goalkeepers very not often contact the ball with their palms, except it is coming from crosses or shot-stopping, however even then they may 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 means: proper left, centre, lengthy or brief. He is versatile and he can regulate to that.”

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

“[It’s about] simply being a bit totally different to what a traditional goalkeeper is like, it’s essential have a little bit of vanity, maintain the ball, present a bit, and like I stated ‘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 growing, like every goalkeeper, he does have a mistake in him.” And there’s the primary concern with this model of play.

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

That mistake was his solely error resulting in a purpose 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 underneath stress. Different nervy moments, together with a couple of within the 4-1 loss to Celtic, have been clipped up on social media.

This could possibly 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 targets to Wrexham by way of enjoying out the again in his first pre-season match in cost, however the Italian was bullish about his philosophy.

“It is likely one of the dangers that you’ve got making an attempt to construct from behind,” he stated when requested concerning the targets Chelsea conceded. “I feel you’re going to concede in numerous methods, so it’s essential determine through which means it’s essential concede a purpose.

“Typically groups that attempt to construct from the again concede targets however I feel 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 complete group of being “confused” as they try to stand up to hurry with the philosophy.

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

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

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 scenario is sorted.

Manchester Metropolis received titles underneath Pep Guardiola as soon as Ederson was signed in 2017, Liverpool got here a significant drive as quickly as Alisson Becker got here via the door a 12 months later. Arsenal’s development sky-rocketed following the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale, then David Raya.

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