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Liam Rosenior has explained why Robert Sanchez was left out of the starting lineup for Chelsea’s clash against Aston Villa. Filip Jorgensen has replaced the 28-year-old goalkeeper between the sticks for the must-win match at Villa Park on Wednesday evening.
Speaking to TNT Sports the game, the Blues boss said: “He's played very good in training. The way I work with goalkeepers, I don't have an outright number one. I want competition in every area. He's been waiting very patiently for his chance. Now I've given it to him this evening.”
Sanchez, who has been named on the bench, struggled in Chelsea’s defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday night. The Spain international was at fault for the winner, misjudging the flight of a corner which fell to Jurrien Timber inside the six-yard box.
Although the shot-stopper has quietly grown to become a key player for the west Londoners, he’s recently gone off the boil. On Monday afternoon, Rosenior defended Sanchez.
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The 41-year-old insisted that the Spaniard was not to blame for the result. Rosenior said: “I think each player adds to the overall picture and functionality of your team. So yes, the first few minutes we had a few nervy spells.
“The fact that we played out from the back affected their press and gave us space in the areas that we wanted to have those spaces. I think that's just as clear.
“So I don't want to single out players and say what they can or can't improve. It's about the functionality of the team. I don't think anyone can say in the moment, other than the two set play goals, my team did not function well in the game.
“By the way, the league leaders, top of the Champions League. We functioned in a very good way for a lot of the game. The reason we lost the game was we didn't take care of the moments.
“Nothing to do with Rob's build, nothing to do with the way that we played. We have to manage those moments to win games of football.”
Then, on Aston Villa, who have scored more goals from outside the box than any other team in the Premier League this season, Rosenior said: “You would never tell Moises Caicedo or Enzo [Fernandez] or Reece [James] or Cole [Palmer] or Pedro [Neto], you would never tell them not to take a shot unless they didn't think it was the right decision in that moment.
“In terms of preparing for Aston Villa, the reason they score great goals is because they have great attacking players. We show individual clips to our players.
“Our players know the strengths and weaknesses of each individual we're up against. It's going to be a very difficult game.
“They're very clinical in terms of the xG that they create, in terms of the values of the goals that they score. They're a good team.
“It's going to be tough because they're going to have a reaction from their last result. We have to make sure we're prepared for a very difficult game.”
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