Few players have faced as much criticism or calls to be benched and sold as Chelsea goalkeeper Roberto Sanchez since arriving at the club.

A series of costly mistakes completely eroded fans’ confidence in him, especially in his first season when he committed five errors that directly led to goals. Those performances saw him dismissed on several occasions, with current Bournemouth goalkeeper Petrovic being favored between the posts.

However, despite these mistakes costing Chelsea dearly, manager Enzo Maresca retains his faith in Roberto Sanchez. Since the start of the 2025/2026 season, the Spanish goalkeeper has looked more confident at the back, showing better control of areas and leadership in organizing defence. As a result, he has become one of Chelsea’s most improved players this season.

Chelsea goalkeeper Alexis Sanchez returns to form at the perfect time

Sanchez has been in fine form with eight clean sheets in the Premier League, tied with Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya. Despite conceding 13 goals, he single-handedly kept the Blues alive in a difficult match.

His ability to steal lobs has resulted in 27 steals to date, which has provided much-needed relief to his defense on many occasions. Combined with his 32 saves this season, his 71.1% save percentage ranks among the best in the league.

His quick reactions, sublime performances and crucial late saves preserved a slim lead and secured crucial points, reinforcing his increasingly important role in Chelsea’s resurgence.

The Blues have made it clear just how much confidence they have in their current goalkeeper by abandoning a deal for AC Milan’s Mike Maignan and allowing Manchester City to offer a clear path for Gianluigi Donnarumma due to their unwillingness to lower their asking price.

Chelsea goalkeeper Alexis Sanchez has earned the club’s full trust, his performances are valued and he has cemented his role as the team’s number one, proving the Blues are committed to growth and stability rather than spending money on replacements.

You may also like: Premier League analysis: Arsenal’s chances of winning the championship are slim?

Petrovic’s league woes continue

Against Manchester United, Serbian Djordje Petrivic had an unforgettable game. In a thrilling 4-4 ​​draw – a game that could easily have been the game of the season – he certainly played his part in the drama, albeit for the wrong reasons.

Petrovic spent the 2023/24 season at Chelsea, initially on loan at the Blues’ sister club to gain experience. He impressed during his time in France, prompting Bournemouth to hire him permanently for £25m upon his return.

However, he has struggled to justify that price tag so far this season. In 17 games, he kept just five clean sheets, conceded 28 goals and had two errors that resulted in goals.

His most recent mistake came against Manchester United: Bruno Fernandez’s corner kick saw Casemiro’s header fall straight at Petrovic. The former Chelsea man could only deflect the ball into his own net to give United the lead before half-time, leaving fans scratching their heads over his consistency.

The decision to sell Petrovic and retain Sanchez was initially met with skepticism by Chelsea fans, who feared it was the wrong move. But after witnessing the vastly different performances between the two goalkeeper groups, it was clear that Sanchez was the right choice.

While Petrovic struggled with costly errors, Sanchez repaid the club’s faith in him by showing composure in key saves and showing leadership from the back. His performance not only stabilized the Blues’ defense, but also highlighted the strength gap between the two players, proving that Chelsea’s decision to support this player was correct.

Chelsea goalkeeper Alexis Sanchez has clearly outperformed Petrovic this season, thanks in large part to Enzo Maresca’s man-management. By trusting Sanchez and pushing him to shed excess baggage that once held him back, Maresca helped him elevate his game.

Sanchez now looks a level above Petrovic, proving that sometimes it’s best to have managers back their decisions and let their methods work.

Main photo

Credit: IMAGO/Professional Sports Photos

Recording date: December 6, 2025