Fixing the goalkeeper drawback is not the primary purpose for brand new Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca, nevertheless it’s excessive on the record.
“In fact, the way in which we need to play, the goalkeeper could be very, essential,” the Italian mentioned after Chelsea’s first pre-season recreation of the season, a 2-2 draw with Wrexham. “This is without doubt one of the most important positions.”
Often, when a brand new head coach takes over, he’ll use the switch market to herald the gamers he desires. Chelsea did make a transfer, signing Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal.
However Jorgensen does not appear to be the answer but. Regardless of spending cash on a brand new face, it’s understood that Roberto Sanchez will begin the brand new season as Chelsea’s primary goalkeeper. Chelsea need Jorgensen instead however hope he can compete with Sanchez.
Chelsea goalkeeper Roberto Sanchez (proper) will begin the brand new season as primary
From the beginning, sticking with Sanchez appeared stunning. The Spaniard endured a tough first season at Stamford Bridge final season and seemed unconvincing earlier than lacking out with damage in the beginning of the season.
Harm issues, mixed with a powerful efficiency from substitute Djordje Petrovich, meant Sanchez’s closing look final season got here in early December. However because of a brand new supervisor, he’s now again within the first-choice spot.
Maresca’s particular fashion of goalkeeping differs from that of conventional goalkeepers. If something, it is extra of an outfield participant.
One of the simplest ways to grasp what Maresca desires is to look again at his time at Leicester Metropolis final season. Maresca signed Max Hermansson as his first-choice goalkeeper and hoped he would be part of Chelsea this summer time, however the Foxes priced the Blues out of the transfer.
Hermansson just isn’t a shooter who solely strikes between the sticks. Final season, he was tasked with slotting into the again 4 and serving as one other defender within the group. The Danish goalkeeper will successfully transfer out of the online and quickly act as an outfield participant.
Enzo Maresca brings on Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansson as supplementary centre-back
Chelsea did not have that choice final season given Petrovic’s depth and heritage. This might clarify why the Serbian was deemed to be past the necessities at Stamford Bridge earlier than the beginning of the brand new season.
Nonetheless, the identical can’t be mentioned for Sanchez, who matches the mould of a Maresca goalkeeper due to his look.
Even in an injury-plagued season, the 26-year-old has had extra touches, passes and turnovers than teammate Petrovic – and he appears extra comfy on the ball.
this The Spaniard’s efficiency final season was solely barely higher than Petrovic’s, though not by a lot. However these strengths may very well be key to Chelsea’s new supervisor’s decision-making.
Even so, Sanchez has been enjoying the position of “senior goalkeeper” since his youth. It was one of many first issues Brighton’s then head of recruitment Mark Anderson found when he traveled to Spain to scout him.
“He is 100% like that further centre-back and further defender,” Anderson instructed sky sports activities. “Individuals typically overlook that they’re one of many solely gamers who can see the opposite 21 gamers in entrance of them. Nobody else can see that.
“Robert performs effectively – an enormous a part of his recreation is together with his ft. Fashionable goalkeepers not often contact the ball with their palms until it is a cross or a cease, however even then they may cease it in any means they’ll. .
“He performs with a centre-back mentality, or perhaps a right-back or left-back mentality. He can go any means: proper, left, central, lengthy or brief. He’s versatile, he can adapt at this level.
Even Sanchez himself realizes why he’s Maresca’s first selection in the intervening time. “It is a totally different fashion. The goalkeeper right here must ‘have a pair’ and present a little bit of character. I feel I am the appropriate particular person,” he instructed speak about sports activities This month.
“[It’s about] It is only a bit totally different to an everyday goalkeeper, you’ll want to have a little bit of conceitedness, hold the ball, present a bit, like I mentioned ‘have a pair’ and present a little bit of high quality.
“I’ve seen Robert put the ball on the penny and he reads the play early,” Anderson added. “However, whereas he’s nonetheless creating, like all goalkeeper he does have a fault. “The principle concern is that this fashion of play.
Any errors within the backfield will be punished. Sanchez himself is aware of this all too effectively. In October final 12 months, his sloppy cross in opposition to Arsenal was intercepted by Declan Rice, who swept previous him to assist the Gunners draw 2-0 with Chelsea final season.
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Roberto Sanchez makes huge mistake, permitting Declan Rice to attain in opposition to Chelsea
The error was his just one that resulted in a purpose final season, however the identical goalkeeper was outplayed once more at Brighton by Roberto De Zerbi as Jason Steele is better at passing the ball under pressure. Different tense moments, together with some within the 4-1 defeat to Celtic, have been documented on social media.
This can be the place new signing Jorgensen is available in.
Whereas Sanchez is conscious of the dangers of enjoying, so is Maresca. His Chelsea facet conceded two objectives to Wrexham by means of the backline in his first pre-season recreation in cost, however the Italian is optimistic about his philosophy.
Requested in regards to the variety of objectives Chelsea conceded, he mentioned: “That is one of many dangers if you attempt to assault from behind. “I feel you concede the ball in several methods, so you’ll want to determine which means you concede the ball.
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Highlights from the pre-season pleasant between Chelsea and Wrexham.
“Typically groups that attempt to assault from the again concede objectives, however I feel you rating extra objectives than you concede.”
Even so, given the Italian’s efficiency final week, Sanchez just isn’t the one participant to have mastered Maresca’s fashion setting. Accusing his entire team of being “confused” As they attempt to sustain with the idea.
Like most trendy managers, Maresca is getting ready to play Chelsea with 11 outfield gamers as a substitute of 10 – with Sanchez set to place the ball in a single web whereas denying it in one other outdoors.
In actual fact, saving the ball is second solely in significance to the power to kick the ball successfully along with your ft. In any case, Jorgensen arrived at Stamford Bridge with extra saves than any La Liga goalkeeper. Even so, he confronted essentially the most pictures on track, and Sanchez’s rescue numbers have been at the same stage.
The goalkeeper begins the plan of assault from the again – which might clarify why current Premier League success tales have all began when a first-place scenario was resolved.
Manchester Metropolis received the title underneath Guardiola after signing Ederson in 2017, and Liverpool turned a power when Alisson Becker joined a 12 months later. Arsenal’s progress has skyrocketed with the arrivals of Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya.
It is no shock, then, that Maresca addressed this challenge when beginning Chelsea’s revolution.
