Enzo Maresca has defended Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who was criticised by Jamie Carragher following his latest error against Wolves.
The Blues led 1-0 in their Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge on Monday night thanks to Tosin Adarabioyo’s early goal, when just before half-time their goalkeeper dropping Matheus Cunha’s corner allowed Matt Doherty to bundle home the equaliser from close range.
While Chelsea went on to rally after the break and win 3-1 thanks to further efforts from Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke, ending a five-match winless run in the top-flight and jumping back into the top four in the process, their No1 was again in the spotlight.
Sanchez has now committed four errors leading directly to opposition goals this season, but it’s not a statistic that gives Maresca any cause for concern as he insisted the Spaniard was performing well.
“You said fourth mistake? And how many times did he save us? I think more than four, so it happens, no problem," Maresca told Sky Sports after the win over Wolves. "It happens. Mistakes happen to him, the strikers, the central defenders. No problem. Robert is doing well.”
However, Sanchez did not escape criticism from Carragher, who suggested that the former Brighton stopper was likely only good enough to play for a team in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
“Every set-piece is the same now,” the Liverpool legend said in his role as a pundit on Sky Sports. “People try and block the goalkeeper. He pushes someone away so he's now got the time to deal with it. He should just punch it.
“A corner came in, just before half-time and after this, and he punches away. That's exactly what he should have done on that goal. He's a Premier League goalkeeper.
“It's not a foul, there's nothing there. We just keep getting signs, as I think we've always probably known, that Sanchez is a Premier League goalkeeper but maybe for a team in the bottom half of the table, not the top half.”
