Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has launched a staunch defence of under-fire goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, dismissing calls from supporters to replace the Spanish shot-stopper. Speaking at an event in Australia this week, the American billionaire insisted Sanchez is performing admirably despite growing discontent among the Stamford Bridge faithful.
The Boehly Backing
Sanchez is doing pretty damn well right now, declared a bullish Boehly during his appearance. The Chelsea owner's comments come amid persistent criticism from fans who have witnessed several high-profile errors from the goalkeeper since his £25million move from Brighton in 2023. Sanchez joined Chelsea after losing his starting position under former Seagulls manager Roberto de Zerbi, but has struggled to fully win over the Chelsea support despite some impressive statistical performances.
Statistical Success Versus On-Pitch Problems
On paper, Sanchez's numbers present a compelling case for his retention. This season, he has conceded just nine goals in the Premier League, sharing the joint-second best defensive record alongside Crystal Palace's Dean Henderson and trailing only Arsenal's David Raya. His five clean sheets are bettered by just one other goalkeeper in the division.
These figures continue a trend from his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge, where his 72.6 per cent save percentage ranked as the fourth-highest among Premier League goalkeepers who played at least 500 minutes. However, statistics don't always reveal the complete picture of a goalkeeper's impact.
The Error-Prone Reality
For many Chelsea supporters, Sanchez's decision-making has repeatedly placed his team in dangerous situations. Last season proved particularly concerning, with Sanchez committing five errors directly leading to goals - the joint-highest tally in the Premier League alongside Ipswich's Arijanet Muric and Brighton's Bart Verbruggen.
Memorable mishaps include a costly mistake against Wolves where he inexplicably dropped the ball at an opponent's feet rather than punching clear, and a positional error against Manchester City that allowed Erling Haaland to chip the ball over him. These concerns have carried into the current campaign, notably featuring a fifth-minute red card against Brentford for charging down Bryan Mbeumo that fundamentally changed the game's dynamics.
Boehly's defence of Sanchez forms part of his broader vision for Chelsea, which has prioritised signing younger players on long-term contracts. The American has overseen spending of nearly £1.5billion on transfer fees since taking control in May 2022, including nine-figure deals for Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.
The Chelsea owner also took time to praise Reece James as an unbelievable leader, highlighting the development of homegrown talent within his project. However, Boehly's management has faced scrutiny beyond the goalkeeping position, with the club now onto its fifth manager in Enzo Maresca and several expensive signings failing to deliver expected returns.
As Boehly told the Australian Financial Review, he believes Chelsea now have a squad that will be together for a long time, suggesting his extravagant spending may soon slow down. Whether this includes persisting with Sanchez as first-choice goalkeeper remains a divisive topic among supporters who crave both stability and success.
