Southampton FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League
Enzo Maresca is doing an impressive job at Stamford Bridge so far (Picture: Getty Images)
Chelsea’s biggest problem is goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and they will ‘need someone else’ if they are to go to the next level, believes former Newcastle, West Ham and Bolton star Kevin Nolan.
The Blues are enjoying a thoroughly impressive season so far under new manager Enzo Maresca, sitting second in the Premier League table and swatting aside opponents in the Europa Conference League.
The west London side has been extremely entertaining under Maresca, currently the top scorers in the Premier League with 35 goals in 15 games, although they cannot boast the best defence, conceding 18 so far.
Nolan feels there is a weak link at the back and it is the man wearing the gloves, who he thinks must be upgraded if Chelsea are to continue to improve.
The 27-year-old has started 14 of Chelsea’s 15 league matches, only sitting out the 5-1 win over Southampton earlier this month.
In that time he has kept just three clean sheets, against Bournemouth, West Ham and Aston Villa, and he conceded three in the thrilling 4-3 victory over Tottenham on Sunday.
Nolan feels the Spain international was to blame for Spurs’ first goal in that game as Dominic Solanke put them ahead and the ex-midfielder says the keeper makes far too many errors in general.
Chelsea FC v Newcastle United FC - Premier League
Robert Sanchez is first choice at Chelsea under Maresca (Picture: Getty Images)
‘The biggest problem what I see with Chelsea at this moment in time, I think, you know, they’re obviously always trying to talk it down. I think the biggest problem is the goalkeeper. I think he was in a fault for the first goal,’ Nolan said on BBC Radio Five Live’s Football Daily Podcast.
‘He makes really bad mistakes for them. And I think if they’re going to go on and go on and go and be title contenders, then they need someone else.’
Maresca gave Sanchez a vote of confidence after leaving him on the bench against Southampton and playing Filip Jorgensen instead.
Asked about team selection ahead of the Spurs clash, the Italian said: ‘That day we are going to play Sanchez and 10 players. The only one that is sure is Sanchez.’
Tottenham Hotspur FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League
Dominic Solanke put Spurs ahead against Chelsea (Picture: Getty Images)
Chelsea continue their busy schedule with a trip to play Astana on Thursday followed by a Premier League meeting with Brentford on Sunday and another Conference League outing against Shamrock Rovers the following Thursday.
The division of duties so far has mainly seen Sanchez in goal in the Premier League and Jorgensen in Europe, with Maresca only straying from that formula in that one win over the Saints.
MORE: Chelsea and Man Utd fans say the same thing after Michael Olise ‘turns into Messi’ in Champions League
MORE: ‘I won titles at Man Utd – this is why Jadon Sancho flopped before joining Chelsea’
MORE: Jose Mourinho urges ‘wonderful’ Arsenal and Chelsea target to join Real Madrid