- Robert Sanchez fumbled a routine catch from a corner to let Wolves equalise
- But, after Chelsea win the match 3-1, his boss Enzo Maresca is in forgiving mood
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Ruben Amorim looks desperate… it’s a last resort to publicly out your players
Enzo Maresca defended Robert Sanchez after the Chelsea goalkeeper’s latest mistake on Monday night, insisting the £25million man saves them more points than he costs.
Sanchez fumbled what should have been a routine catch to allow Matt Doherty to equalise at a corner. Chelsea won 3-1 nonetheless as Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke netted, with Maresca saying afterwards: ’Fourth mistake leading to a goal? And how many times has he saved us? I think more than four.
‘No problem. Mistakes happen to him, to the strikers, central defenders, no problem. Robert is doing well. It (the scrutiny) is part of our job when you make some mistakes. Robert has saved us many times. It happens, no problem.’
The Chelsea boss was less generous, however, when it came to Madueke – despite the winger’s goal.
Maresca called for an ‘immediate’ improvement in Madueke and called him out for what he perceived to be a drop-off from the England international after he had headed his team’s third goal in the 65th minute.
It was the second time this season that Madueke has been called out publicly over his work rate.
Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez has come in for plenty of criticism during his time at the club
The Spaniard handed Wolves an equaliser on Monday night when he dropped a corner
But Enzo Maresca continues to back Sanchez insisting he saves the Blues plenty of points
He was dropped from the team for December’s win over Aston Villa, with the boss questioning his attitude in training.
‘He can improve in the last third, but probably after he scored the goal he stopped playing. This has to be one thing that we need to improve immediately,’ said Maresca, whose team moved back into the top four in the Premier League thanks to a first victory wince December 15.
‘Never happy if you score one or two, always you have to go for more. After he scored the goal he stopped playing a little bit and it’s something that we need to improve.
‘We just try always to help them to improve. After the goal probably he was a little bit tired, but it’s the moment we need to go for more.’
