Chelsea's shot-stopper Robert Sanchez has finally addressed his catastrophic error during the dramatic Premier League clash against Manchester United that saw him dismissed and his team collapse in the dying moments.
The Spanish goalkeeper broke his silence with a concise 21-word statement on social media, taking responsibility for the incident that turned the tide at Stamford Bridge.
Sanchez's moment of madness came in the dying seconds of stoppage time when he ventured far outside his penalty area attempting to play as an outfield player. His poor touch was swiftly punished by United's attackers, leaving him with no choice but to commit a professional foul that earned him an immediate red card.
The consequences were immediate and severe. With Chelsea having used all their substitutions, defender Axel Disasi was forced to don the goalkeeper's jersey for the final moments. The makeshift keeper couldn't prevent Scott McTominay's header from finding the net in the 101st minute, sealing a stunning comeback victory for the visitors.
Sanchez's post-match statement struck a conciliatory tone, acknowledging his error while vowing to learn from the experience. "I take full responsibility for today's mistake," the keeper wrote. "I will learn from this and come back stronger. Thank you for your support."
The incident has sparked debate among pundits and fans alike about the risks of modern goalkeepers playing so far from their line. Sanchez's error proved particularly costly as Chelsea surrendered what seemed like a certain draw, dropping crucial points in their European qualification campaign.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino now faces selection dilemmas ahead of Chelsea's next fixture, with Sanchez facing an automatic suspension and backup keeper Djordje Petrovic waiting in the wings for his potential Premier League debut.
