For brand spanking new Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca, checking out the goalkeeper scenario was not goal No 1, but it surely was excessive up on the checklist.
“For positive, the way in which we need to play, the goalkeeper may be very, essential,” stated the Italian after Chelsea’s first pre-season recreation of the season, a 2-2 draw with Wrexham. “It is among the principal positions.”
Usually when a brand new supervisor is available in, he brings in gamers he needs via the switch market. And Chelsea have certainly acted by signing Villarreal’s Filip Jorgensen.
However Jorgensen doesn’t seem 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 tricky first season at Stamford Bridge final time period, trying unconvincing firstly of the season earlier than his marketing campaign succumbed to harm.
The harm woe, plus the spectacular shows of stand-in Djordje Petrovic, meant Sanchez’s remaining 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 type isn’t that of a conventional goalkeeper. If something, it’s extra like outfield participant.
One of the best ways to have a look at what Maresca needs is thru his time at Leicester final season. Maresca signed Mads Hermansen as his first-choice goalkeeper – and wished him at Chelsea this summer time just for the Foxes to cost the Blues out of a transfer.
Hermansen isn’t 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 web and briefly act as an outfield participant.
Enzo Maresca deployed Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen as an additional centre-back in build-up play
Chelsea didn’t have that possibility final season given how deep and conventional Petrovic was. It may clarify why the Serbian is deemed surplus to necessities at Stamford Bridge forward of the brand new season.
The identical, nonetheless, 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 extra comfy on the ball.
The Spaniard additionally performed simply that little bit larger than Petrovic final season, albeit marginally. However these margins may have been key within the new Chelsea supervisor’s decision-making.
Even then, Sanchez has all the time 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 additional centre-back and further 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 – a giant proportion of his recreation is enjoying together with his toes. The fashionable-day goalkeepers very hardly ever contact the ball with their arms, until it is coming from crosses or shot-stopping, however even then they are going to 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 quick. 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 completely different type. The goalkeeper right here must ‘have a pair’ and present a little bit of character. I feel I’m the correct man for that,” he instructed talkSPORT this month.
“[It’s about] simply being a bit completely different to what a standard goalkeeper is like, you’ll want to have a little bit of conceitedness, 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 creating, like every goalkeeper, he does have a mistake in him.” And there’s the principle concern with this type of play.
Any mistake in enjoying out of the again will seemingly 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 dwelling, because the Gunners got here from 2-0 to say a 2-2 draw again at Chelsea final season.
Robert Sanchez made a giant mistake to permit Declan Rice to attain for Arsenal vs Chelsea
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 beneath stress. Different nervy moments, together with just a few within the 4-1 loss to Celtic, have been clipped up on social media.
This might 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 aspect 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 among the dangers that you’ve attempting to construct from behind,” he stated when requested in regards to the targets Chelsea conceded. “I feel you will concede in numerous methods, so you’ll want to resolve wherein means you’ll want to concede a purpose.
Highlights from the pre-season pleasant between Chelsea and Wrexham.
“Typically groups that attempt to construct from the again concede targets however I feel you will rating greater than you concede.”
And even then, Sanchez isn’t the one participant attending to grips with a Maresca-style set-up, given final week the Italian accused his whole workforce of being “confused” as they try to rise 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 workforce placing the ball in a single web as he’s protecting it out of the opposite.
Truly saving the ball is secondary to the power to play successfully together with your toes. In spite of everything, Jorgensen arrives at Stamford Bridge having made extra saves than any LaLiga goalkeeper. Even then, he confronted essentially the most pictures, and Sanchez’s saving numbers are at an identical degree.
Goalkeepers begin the plan of assault from the again – and it may clarify why the current Premier League success tales have all began when the No 1 scenario is sorted.
Manchester Metropolis received titles beneath Pep Guardiola as soon as Ederson was signed in 2017, Liverpool got here a serious pressure as quickly as Alisson Becker got here via the door a yr later. Arsenal’s development sky-rocketed following the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale, then David Raya.
So it’s no shock Maresca is tackling this challenge as he begins his Chelsea revolution.
