After spending time on the sidelines, Robert Sanchez is set to reclaim his position as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper for their upcoming Premier League showdown against Arsenal.
Head coach Enzo Maresca had temporarily dropped the 27-year-old Spaniard in favor of Filip Jorgensen, but that decision was never meant to be permanent.
Maresca believed Sanchez needed a break from the spotlight following a series of costly errors, most notably in Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City in January.
In that match, his miscalculated rush out of the box gifted Erling Haaland an easy goal, sparking widespread criticism and leading to Jorgensen’s promotion in the following fixtures.
Maresca Confident in Sanchez’s Return
Now refreshed and mentally recharged, Sanchez is back in the starting lineup, and Maresca intends to keep him there for the rest of the season as Chelsea push for Champions League qualification.
Speaking ahead of the crucial clash with Arsenal, Maresca explained his reasoning for the switch.
“I thought Robert needed some days off, to rest with his head, mentally,” Maresca told reporters.
“Now he is back, and hopefully, we are not going to change until the end.”
Chelsea Still Chasing Arsenal
Despite only a six-point gap between Chelsea and Arsenal in the league table, Maresca believes there is still a significant difference between the two teams.
He attributes this to Arsenal’s long-term stability under Mikel Arteta, who has been at the helm for five years, while Chelsea are still in a rebuilding phase.
“The reason why is because they are working with the same manager for five years, so the difference is quite important,” Maresca said.
“With the same players, they have already played some important games.”
Still, he remains optimistic about Chelsea’s chances of closing the gap.
With nine games left in the season, Maresca has set two clear objectives: securing a top-four or top-five finish for Champions League qualification and competing for the Conference League.
“This club used to play finals and fight for titles, so if we are able to give the fans and the club another chance to fight for a title, it’s important for us,” he added.
Chelsea’s Momentum and Injury Boost
The Blues have hit their stride recently, winning their last four matches in all competitions after a rough patch during the winter.
Adding to the positive news, key players Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia are now back in contention for the Arsenal match, giving Chelsea a further boost as they enter the final stretch of the season.
With Sanchez back between the posts and key players returning, Chelsea are gearing up for a crucial run of games.
Can they maintain their winning form and keep their Champions League hopes alive?