Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has shared the reason why Robert Sanchez missed the Blues’ game against Manchester City today.
Robert Sanchez was set to be included in Chelsea‘s matchday squad for their clash at the Etihad, with Mauricio Pochettino confirming in his pre-match press conference yesterday that the goalkeeper has recovered from the injury he picked up in December.
However, the Spaniard did not make the trip to Manchester in the end, and Pochettino has explained why.
Djordje Petrovic has come into the Blues’ side in Sanchez’s absence, starting their latest match at the Etihad.
Chelsea signed the 24-year-old from New England Revolution last summer.
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Mauricio Pochettino explains Robert Sanchez absence
According to Pochettino, Sanchez was absent because of a personal matter.
Speaking before the City game, the Chelsea manager said: “We had hoped to include Robert Sanchez in the squad today but after the press conference on Friday, it emerged that he had a personal problem which meant he could not be here with us.”
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Should Robert Sanchez be Chelsea’s No.1 when he returns?
Following Kepa Arrizabalaga’s loan move to Real Madrid, Sanchez was installed as Chelsea’s No.1.
As already mentioned, though, the 26-year-old got injured, which has given Petrovic his opportunity between the sticks.
There, the Serbian has really not disappointed. He was excellent in one game against Aston Villa, for example, and that did not go unnoticed. After that match, Pochettino came out to say that he is doing “fantastic”.
Sanchez, then, is probably going to have to earn his place back in the side. It would be unfair to drop Petrovic, especially for next weekend’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.
Petrovic is one reason why they have made it to Wembley after playing a big role in Chelsea’s penalty shoot-out triumph over Newcastle United in the quarter-finals.
Until Petrovic slips up – if the Serbia international does — we think that he should keep his place in the team. He really has not let Pochettino down.
