- Robert Sanchez produced an error-strewn display as Chelsea lost to Man City
- Enzo Maresca even conceded after that he could go ahead and drop Sanchez
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Chelsea will always create chances and score goals. The reason they haven’t been able to sustain a title challenge is that they lack experience and leadership at the other end.
Saturday night’s defeat at Manchester City has left them in sixth place – not what you’d expect for a £1.3billion outlay under Todd Boehly.
I can see the benefits in investing in youth and potential but there has to be a balance.
It’s not coincidence that the best teams in the league this season, Liverpool and Arsenal, both have a consistent centre back partnership in front of a reliable goalkeeper.
You can’t compare Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Alisson or William Saliba, Gabriel and David Raya to what Chelsea had at the Etihad.
Levi Colwill is still learning at 21, Trevoh Chalobah has never had a full season as a Premier League starter and Robert Sanchez isn’t at the level to compete for the biggest trophies, which is where Chelsea want to be.
Robert Sanchez (left) could find himself dropped by Enzo Maresca for Chelsea’s next game
Chelsea are crying out for leadership at the back if they are to be serious contenders for titles
You saw the frailties against City. They couldn’t cope with Erling Haaland playing the high line and with the time and space Ilkay Gundogan had in which to play his passes, it was inevitable the champions were going to score.
Sanchez has good attributes as a goalkeeper but he’s not the man to shore up your back line.
Chelsea won’t have problems in the final third this season but they won’t keep enough clean sheets to compete at the top.
You see Van Dijk’s leadership, guiding team-mates through games when necessary, you can see it when Jarrell Quansah plays. At Arsenal, Saliba is wonderfully calm and composed but he looks at his best when he’s got Gabriel’s physicality and knowhow alongside him.
It’s about partnerships, having the right blend. After Alan Hansen famously claimed Manchester United wouldn’t win anything with kids, he was berated when United won the league.
But the Class of ’92 have acknowledged that there was no way they’d have been champions that early in their careers without the help of Peter Schmeichel, Dennis Irwin, Gary Pallister and Eric Cantona.
Chelsea’s spending has been revolutionary but their next important purchase would be a defender with wisdom as well as athleticism.
I can see why they’d be interested in Alejandro Garnacho because of the situation with Mykhailo Mudrykh but if they want to finish in the top four it’s a leader at the back they need.
Sanchez rushed out of goal recklessly which allowed Erling Haaland to lift the ball over him
I know from my own career the importance of having someone on the pitch who can help manage the team through difficult moments in games.
At Liverpool, I was indebted to the likes of Gary McAllister and Didi Hamann. Later I performed that role at Fulham with Aaron Hughes and Damien Duff.
Chelsea are exciting and vivacious. But to match their ambitions, they aren’t going to be able to get there on youth alone. When City had to grind it out yesterday, they had John Stones and Manuel Akanji to help them.
Chelsea need to find the equivalent to stop their season from flattering to deceive.
