When Liam Rosenior first took over at Chelsea, there were concerns about whether he’d be bold enough in his decisions. Against Aston Villa, Robert Sanchez saw first-hand that this isn’t the case.
Given his limited experience – with just Hull and Strasbourg on his CV – it wouldn’t have been surprising if he’d allowed the senior voices in the dressing room to dictate terms.
He had a steady playing career, including 149 Premier League appearances, but this is a different world now. And early on, there was plenty of pressure on him to show he could make tough calls.
The decision paid off, even if Chelsea didn’t keep a clean sheet. But what does that mean for Sanchez moving forward?
Filip Jorgensen looks likely to hold onto the No.1 spot
Jorgensen has already featured under Rosenior in matches against Charlton and Pafos, but this was the first real choice between him and Sanchez where Jorgensen got the nod.
There was little he could have done about Douglas Luiz’s goal, and even though he came close to stopping Ollie Watkins’ strike that was later ruled out, what stood out most was how quietly effective he was.
He didn’t do anything flashy, kept things under control, and never looked like making a costly error. That’s a big contrast to how Gary Neville describes Sanchez when playing with the ball at his feet, saying:
This doesn’t appear to be just a short-term change. Even if Sanchez features against Wrexham in their next outing, Jorgensen seems likely to keep his place when PSG come around.
Robert Sanchez could be on his way out this summer
When a goalkeeper loses his starting spot, it’s usually a sign that things haven’t gone to plan. Sanchez has struggled to shake off the mistakes that have followed him for much of his career, and at this point, he’s not built to sit on the bench.
If Jorgensen holds onto the top job, Sanchez’s situation becomes even clearer. He won’t want to be second choice, and Chelsea probably won’t see much use in keeping him around just as cover.
If things don’t change by then, it’s hard to see any scenario where he stays put. Rosenior’s decision might just be the beginning of the end for his time at Stamford Bridge.
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