Chelsea Transfers

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Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen have both had tough weeks. Do Chelsea stick or twist?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6661754/2025/09/26/Chelsea-goalkeepers-robert-sanchez-filip-jorgensen-analysis/

 

With a growing outfield injury list including Cole Palmer, Liam Delap and Romeo Lavia, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca could really do without questions over his goalkeeper.

Unfortunately for him, Robert Sanchez put paid to that when he was sent off after just four minutes for taking out Bryan Mbeumo in Chelsea’s 2-1 loss to Manchester United on September 20. It was the earliest red card a Chelsea player has ever received in the Premier League.

The Spain international can be a fantastic shot-stopper and was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper when Chelsea won the Club World Cup this summer. But the 27-year-old’s errors — including five that led to goals in the Premier League last term — can be costly.

“On his day, Sanchez is the best of the best,” The Athletic’s goalkeeping expert Matt Pyzdrowski says. “It’s just his consistency. Once you get labelled as a goalkeeper with a mistake in you, it sticks — whether it’s true or not.”

His errors have already cost him the trust of some supporters. The question is whether they could cost him his place in this Chelsea team.

Last season, after poor positioning saw Sanchez lobbed by Erling Haaland in January’s 3-1 defeat by Manchester City, back-up Filip Jorgensen played the next four league games.

On Saturday, Chelsea face Sanchez’s former club Brighton & Hove Albion. With Sanchez serving his one-match suspension during Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie at Lincoln City,  Jorgensen had a free chance to audition for that league clash.

 

Sanchez fouls Mbeumo at Old Trafford (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

It was unconvincing. Jorgensen fumbled several high claims, the most notable coming after 31 minutes when he missed a punch in the box and only an accidental block by Lincoln’s Sonny Bradley stopped team-mate Freddie Draper from opening the scoring.

Chelsea came back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 and progress to the third round, but Jorgensen saw multiple errors go unpunished. It served as a reminder to Sanchez’s naysayers that, as frustrating as he can be, replacing him is difficult.

Chelsea are unlikely to pursue a goalkeeper in January. They are reluctant to block the pathway of Mike Penders, who is on loan at Strasbourg and held in high regard at Stamford Bridge. There was interest this summer in a potential cut-price deal for Mike Maignan as he entered the final year of his AC Milan contract, but Chelsea walked away over the valuation.

Maresca’s system demands a goalkeeper who is comfortable on the ball, capable of stepping up to help build-up play, and happy sweeping behind a high line. This season, that person needs to be Sanchez or Jorgensen.

“Both are extremely athletic,” says Pyzdrowski. “Both of them can make some ridiculous saves, with really good reflexes.

“The biggest difference is that Sanchez is much more offensive in his play. This does not just mean with the ball at his feet — it’s the positioning that he takes.

“He is someone who likes to come and command his box. Even with free-kicks that are launched into his box, he loves claiming them. Jorgensen is much more conservative.”

Jorgensen, 23, developed at Villarreal, where Pyzdrowski says box dominance is less important. He has had to adapt significantly since arriving at Chelsea in the summer of 2024 for €24.5 million (then £20.7m, $26.6m).

He has had only one full senior season as No 1, and that showed against Lincoln.

“There was a lot psychologically going on because he wanted to show in this game that he’s the guy, because he wants to play against Brighton,” Pyzdrowski says, “and it was a little bit of wanting something too much. You saw that in some of his decision-making.”

Below, late in the game, he makes an ambitious leap to intercept the ball before Justin Obikwu can reach it. He fails to punch it clear and is fortunate that Francis Okoronkwo, who is left facing an open net, cannot get his shot on target.

“He had almost made up his mind before the ball was served that he wanted to go out and try to attack it, and mistakes earlier probably played a role in that,” says Pyzdrowski. “He wants to prove he can do the job.”

“I don’t know how many balls they put into the box — throw-ins, free-kicks, crosses — so I think it was not easy for any goalkeeper,” Maresca said after Tuesday’s match. “For Filip, it was the first (full) game of the season, so not easy.”

Maresca confirmed on Monday that the Denmark international was promised minutes in all competitions this season. Last term, three of Jorgensen’s league outings were against struggling Southampton and Ipswich Town, indicating Maresca is willing to build his experience against weaker teams.

However, Jorgensen’s performances to date — which included a mistake to allow Aston Villa a late winner in February — cast doubt on his suitability to replace Sanchez.

Some fans see having Sanchez in the net as an inherent risk. But it is a risk they have to take.

Pyzdrowski says: “Sanchez needs the backing: ‘You’re our guy, regardless of what happens. Go out and play your game.’

“He’s very much a Premier League starting goalkeeper. You can question whether or not he’s good enough for Chelsea, and that’s a question that Chelsea are going to have to answer themselves.”

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Looks like Maresca doesn't make decisions around here...