Will Robert Sanchez or Filip Jorgensen play for Chelsea against West Ham?
Will Robert Sanchez or Filip Jorgensen play for Chelsea against West Ham?
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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has not revealed which goalkeeper will start against West Ham on Monday, but he has sent a message to struggling stopper Robert Sanchez. The Spain international has been first choice with the gloves this season but is in poor form and has made a number of mistakes. The Blues have conceded 30 goals in 23 Premier League games, so they have not been disastrous at the back, but the likes of Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth have managed to concede fewer.
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Sanchez was between the sticks last time out as Chelsea were beaten 3-1 by Manchester City and there have been growing calls from Blues fans to see him dropped for summer signing Filip Jorgensen. The 22-year-old arrived from Villarreal and has made 13 appearances this season, although just two of those have come in the Premier League. Maresca says he is yet to choose who will be in goal against the Hammers, but he is relaxed about the decision.
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Asked it he had decided, he told a press conference on Friday: ‘Not yet. We have two or three days. ‘Any decision I make, I feel good because Filip has done well. Filip or Robert, we will see, but any decision will be okay.’. Maresca was asked if Jorgensen’s confidence could be damaged by remaining on the bench while Sanchez struggles, but did not see that as an issue. However, the Italian did warn Sanchez that if mistakes continue then his status as first choice will not keep him in the side.
‘I don’t think so. The first time I spoke with Filip in July, I made it clear that the number one choice was Robert,’ said the Blues boss. ‘We have two good goalkeepers, so we can make some different decisions. It doesn’t mean that Robert can make a mistake every game and stay in goal.’. Maresca called on the Chelsea fans to remain positive in the face of mistakes, saying he is well aware of issues and is trying to fix them.
‘We need the fans. We need them, the players need them,’ he said. ‘Understanding for sometimes they cannot be happy with the player or manager but for sure, we need their support. They have to trust our direction. If I see something I don’t like, I’m the first one to not accept that.’. One way he will not be looking to fix his goalkeeping issue, though, is to recall Kepa Arrizabalaga from his loan spell at Bournemouth, where he has been impressive.
