Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has publicly defended goalkeeper Robert Sánchez against growing criticism from supporters who believe the club needs to sign a new number one. The American businessman insisted the 28-year-old Spaniard is performing at a high level despite recent high-profile mistakes.
Boehly's Unwavering Support
Speaking at an event in Australia this week, Boehly made his position clear regarding the goalkeeper situation at Stamford Bridge. 'Sánchez is doing very well right now,' declared the optimistic Chelsea owner. He also took the opportunity to praise club captain Reece James, stating he 'has become an incredible leader.'
This firm backing comes despite repeated calls from sections of the Chelsea fanbase for Sánchez to be replaced. The Spanish goalkeeper joined Chelsea from Brighton in 2023 after losing his starting position under Seagulls manager Roberto De Zerbi, and has struggled to win over the Stamford Bridge faithful since his arrival in West London.
The Statistical Paradox
The debate around Sánchez's performances presents a curious case where statistics tell a different story from fan perception. This season, he has conceded only nine Premier League goals, the second-best record in the top flight alongside Crystal Palace's Dean Henderson and behind only Arsenal's David Raya.
His five clean sheets are bettered only by the Arsenal goalkeeper, while his stop percentage of 72.6% last season ranked fourth highest among Premier League goalkeepers who played at least 500 minutes. These numbers suggest Sánchez is performing at a level comparable with some of the league's best shot-stoppers.
High-Profile Errors Cause Concern
However, statistics don't always reveal the complete picture. Chelsea supporters have grown increasingly concerned about Sánchez's decision-making in crucial moments. Last season, his five errors leading to goals were the highest in the league, matching mistakes made by Ipswich's Arijanet Muric and Brighton's Bart Verbruggen.
Memorable incidents include a positioning error against Manchester City that allowed Erling Haaland to chip the ball over him, and a mistake against Wolves where he dropped the ball at an opponent's feet rather than punching clear. This season, Sánchez received a red card just five minutes into a match against Manchester United for bringing down Bryan Mbeumo, a decision that dramatically shifted the game's momentum.
Boehly's Chelsea Vision
Boehly's comments to the Australian Financial Review reveal his determination to stick with his long-term project at Chelsea. Since taking control of the West London club in May 2022, he has spent nearly £1.5 billion on new signings, including over £100 million each for Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández.
The American owner has prioritised signing young players to long-term contracts in an attempt to build a squad for the future. However, this strategy has seen some questionable decisions, including the £50 million signing of Raheem Sterling from Manchester City to play under Champions League-winning manager Thomas Tuchel, only for the German to be sacked after just six Premier League matches.
Chelsea were again the second-highest spending club this summer at £315 million, behind only Liverpool, but Boehly hinted that their spending may now slow down as they have assembled a squad that 'will stay together for a long time.'
'You're going to continue to see our team evolve and grow,' Boehly told AFN. 'We have them together for a long time. I'm very excited about the future.' The Chelsea owner also acknowledged the intensity of scrutiny that comes with his position, noting that he's developed thick skin to deal with criticism.
