Enzo Maresca has shed light on how Robert Sanchez handled himself in the Chelsea dressing room following his disastrous evening at Old Trafford last weekend. The Spanish goalkeeper endured a nightmare start to the match that ultimately cost his side dearly.
Just five minutes into the Premier League clash, Sanchez brought down Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo in a one-on-one situation. The referee had little choice but to brandish a red card, as the challenge denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
It was a moment that stunned Chelsea’s travelling fans and left his teammates with an uphill battle for the remainder of the contest.
Sanchez’s dismissal means he will now serve a one-match suspension, which rules him out of Chelsea’s upcoming domestic cup tie against Lincoln City. The setback could not have come at a worse time, with the Blues already navigating injuries and a demanding fixture schedule.
While pundits such as Tony Cascarino were quick to criticize the lack of defensive awareness from Moises Caicedo in the buildup, Sanchez himself refused to shift the blame. Instead, he took full ownership of the mistake, offering both a public and private apology.
Maresca praised the goalkeeper’s maturity, explaining how Sanchez addressed his teammates after the game. “Rob for a long time has been very good,” the Chelsea boss was quoted as saying by Chelsea’s official club website. “Unfortunately, he made a mistake the other day and he recognised it.
“I know he made a post on Instagram in public, but he also did so after the game in the changing room. He recognised it was a mistake. He is an intelligent person, and he recognised that.”
Sanchez’s willingness to shoulder the responsibility will likely go down well in the Chelsea camp. Despite his blunder, the goalkeeper’s humility and accountability may help him rebuild trust quickly and strengthen his standing within the squad as the season progresses.