02 Jun 2026 13:33:25
End of season review. GK
A tale of two halves.
Robert Sánchez
49+1 games
13 clean sheets
1 red card
9/10 until New Year
5/10 after
What happened? From August to the end of December, Sánchez cut right down his decision making errors and distribution calamities, and with sensational saves and elite quality handling he was arguably Chelsea's best player and the Premier League's best goalkeeper. But then it all staggered to pieces. Two things happened. There were three games against Arsenal, two in the Carabao Cup semi-final, one away in the League, where he was constantly roughed up at set plays. And there was not only a change of head coach, but a change of goalkeeper coach, with Maresca's Michele de Bernardin leaving and former Brighton goalkeeper coach Ben Roberts returning to the job from head of goalkeeping. Did something specific unsettle him? Or did he just get tired and stale?
He was a big favourite of Maresca's who seemed to be getting the best out of him but really struggled for confidence under LR.
Keep or Leave?
Keep from first half of the season, leave from second half.
02 Jun 2026 15:37:58
Leave and take Ben Robeets with him.
02 Jun 2026 15:42:22
RPD, very interesting observations and question.
I think Sanchez will be at our club next season, and I certainly believe for most of last season he was our most improved player. Based on form.
The manager has a big call to make, and it reminds me of the Jose decision to pick Big Pete as the club's No1 in his first spell as manager.
I think I would start with Sanchez, but that opinion may change if Pinders gets a chance and plays well in the WC.
02 Jun 2026 17:05:09
I don't buy into the big improvement by Sanchez. Perhaps he made a few less blatant cock-ups. He is an awful keeper, poor with his feet, long and short: he has no positional sense and flaps around. If he is no 1, we will start the season with one hand tied behind our back.
02 Jun 2026 17:18:23
He only improved because we had to change our tactics to make him look decent.
02 Jun 2026 17:41:56
I think Sanchez's one quality - suggested by the list Jimbo has of his failings - is that he is a pretty decent shot stopper. Distribution of long ball improved somewhat. Now neither is to be sniffed at, but surely not enough in the modern game for a No 1 keeper at a side that has ambitions to challenge for top honours.
On the other hand, beware of getting even worse, which goes in terms of desire to change any player or manager.
02 Jun 2026 18:28:06
JBS, spot on mate. I well remember how some posters rated Mendy, who I consider to be one of our worst ever keepers, and how some wanted us to sign Onana.
Maresca, in my opinion, got improvement out of Sanchez just by asking him to do simple things well ish.
When that happened, his confidence grew and he looked much improved.
Of course, that improvement didn't make him a top keeper, it just made him a better keeper.
02 Jun 2026 20:32:07
A top shot stopper and pretty solid keeper, but questions will always remain about his distribution. Big Pete has said how highly he rates him, and he knows a bit more about goalkeeping arts than us lot on here. That said, I do think it is time to throw Mike Penders in and bring in an experienced backup.
03 Jun 2026 05:44:40
If you believe what's written, Sanchez wants to be undisputed first choice, which just isn't going to happen here for the long term. I suspect he'll do one more season, or at least till January, with Penders the backup / cup GK. But before long, Penders will get the starting job. At that point, Sanchez will move on.
03 Jun 2026 08:22:13
Greenaway, no one doubts Big Pete's ability as a keeper, but one wonders if he should go to SpecSavers: he was responsible for Mendy coming to Chelsea. I don't recall many posters rating Mendy, although I do remember one poster being shot down for suggesting Mendy was a top keeper. Leaving that aside, we still lack a top keeper, which is essential for our rebuild.
03 Jun 2026 11:30:36
Players, ex-players, scouts, and SDs can and do make recommendations. There is never any guarantee of success.
Sometimes players improve in different environments, and under different managers.
I certainly wasn't convinced about Dave, Iva, or Cucarella when they first joined our club.