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Enzo Maresca gives blunt response when asked if Chelsea will recall goalkeeper

talksport.com, 31 January 2025, 15:20
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca gave a blunt response when asked about recalling Kepa Arrizabalaga from his loan spell at Bournemouth.

Robert Sanchez's poor performance against Manchester City last Saturday added to mounting pressure on the shot stopper.

His error which led to Erling Haaland's goal handed him a damning statistic in the top-flight.

It gave Sanchez a league-high of five errors leading to goals across the Premier League this season.

Amidst mounting pressure on Maresca to stop playing current first-choice goalkeeper, he did not mince his words when asked about Arrizabalaga, who is starting every week for high-flying Bournemouth.

"No, absolutely not," was Maresca's short response when asked about whether the club have thought about recalling Arrizabalaga - who is still the most expensive goalkeeper in history after joining Chelsea for £71million in 2018.

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Asked whether he has decided if Sanchez will start in goal for Chelsea's game against West Ham on Monday, Maresca said he was unsure.

He added: "Not yet. We have two or three days and any decision I take, I feel good because every time Filip [Jorgensen] has played, he has done well."

Chelsea fan and talkSPORT co-host Rory Jennings recently called Sanchez's error at Man City 'unacceptable' and unleashed a furious rant about the Spain international.

He said: "Enzo Maresca persists with picking Robert Sanchez and it makes no sense. Sanchez is undoubtedly the worst goalkeeper in the Premier League.

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"Robert Sanchez is undoubtedly costing Chelsea time and time again, Robert Sanchez is going to be the reason why Chelsea will not qualify for the Champions League next season.

"There is no way that a player of Cole Palmer's quality goes three years without playing in the Champions League.

"So if [Chelsea] aren't going to make it, what does that mean for our future ambition and what does that mean for Cole Palmer.

"It has been a terrible performance and Enzo Maresca needs to start taking some accountability and responsibility because he is getting it wrong. Chelsea are now sixth in the Premier League table.

"Howler after howler. I have no idea why Maresca is making justification for playing him.

"He is a total calamity. I don't think he should ever play for the club again. Selecting him could be Enzo Maresca's biggest downfall.

"I would rather play an outfield player in goal than I would Robert Sanchez."

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