Mark Schwarzer believes Robert Sanchez is still a ‘problem’ for Chelsea despite the goalkeeper ‘improving dramatically’ in the last six months.
Chelsea signed Sanchez in a £25m deal from Brighton in 2023 and he has impressed in the current campaign, massively cutting down on mistakes.
But former Blues goalkeeper Schwarzer still feels there are issues with the Spaniard’s ‘consistency’ and says Sanchez is still haunted by his previous errors in a Chelsea shirt, which makes him an easy target for supporters.
‘The problem is his consistency,’ Schwarzer told Joe Fortune when quizzed about Sanchez ahead of Chelsea’s next game against Aston Villa.
‘When you’re at a big club, you need consistency. Look at Manchester United and Andre Onana, Man City and Gianluigi Donnarumma coming in and what he’s done already.
‘I will say for Robert Sanchez, I think in the last six months, [he] has improved dramatically.
‘He hasn’t made as many mistakes as he had done previously. I think he’s made some big saves.
‘The Club World Cup final, I think for me, was by far the best game he’s ever played for Chelsea. I think obviously there’s still some way to go.
‘I think playing out from the back, with his feet at times, he’s been caught out.
‘He’s made some poor decisions with his distribution. So that’s something that he still needs to very much work on and improve upon.
‘I think for a club that are going to win things, I know they won the Conference League last season, not that Robert Sanchez played in those competitions, and they won the Club World Cup, but I think consistently, if you’re in the Champions League, you want to win the Premier League, you’re going to have to have a top, top-class goalkeeper.
‘I just don’t feel like he’s at that level. Look, there’s a chance that he can get there, but I think he’s still got some way to go.
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‘And of course, when you’ve had a pretty average start at the club, even if you play well for the next six months, the minute you make another mistake, people straight away get on your back.
‘I’ve noticed it with Robert Sanchez, the minute he makes a poor decision with his distribution, fans are on his back and it’s because he’s done it too often, I think, in a Chelsea shirt.
‘That’s been one of the problems and it’s been a position that I think so many people have thought that Chelsea would look to strengthen every transfer window, and they haven’t.
‘So obviously, Enzo Maresca is happy with him and ultimately that’s what matters. The manager is happy enough with the players he has and he’s obviously happy with Robert Sanchez and he’s made him clearly now his number one, which I think had to be done.
‘I think the decision has to be made on who is your number one. You can’t flick between the two.
‘I think that causes [problems] among both goalkeepers and I think certainly Robert Sanchez this season has flourished under the fact that he knows he’s number one at the club.’
