Chelsea have had a week to forget after parting ways with Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day.
Maresca’s time can only go down as a success after the Italian guided Chelsea to glory in the Club World Cup and Conference League.
He also managed to get the Blues back into the Champions League. Losing him has to be described as a blow.
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On top of Maresca’s departure, Chelsea have also had to contend with several injury issues.
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Robert Sanchez set to return against Fulham
Chelsea kicked off their game against Manchester City without Robert Sanchez and Wesley Fofana in a blow for interim manager Calum McFarlane.
The good news is Fofana only has a fever, while Sanchez is expected to be back for Chelsea’s next match versus Fulham, according to journalist Kieran Gill.
Sanchez has been a key player for the Blues this season. This is the first time that he has missed a game in the Premier League.
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Had it not been for injuries, his teammate also would have been a mainstay in this Chelsea team. It has been claimed that Fofana was one of Maresca’s favourite players during his time in west London.
Fofana joined the Club World Cup winners in 2022, while Sanchez signed for them a year later.
Chelsea's Spanish goalkeeper #01 Robert Sanchez punches the ball
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Robert Sanchez’s stats under Enzo Maresca
Since joining Chelsea, things have not always been plain sailing for Sanchez. However, Maresca stuck by the Spaniard and really started to reap the rewards for doing so this term.
In total, Sanchez made 64 appearances under Maresca. He conceded 68 goals and kept 24 clean sheets, according to Transfermarkt.
They are not the worst stats, and there is no doubt that Sanchez is one player who would have been desperate for Maresca to stay.
What is done is done now. Sanchez and his teammates have to move on and hope that Liam Rosenior can be as successful as Maresca was, with the Strasbourg manager expected to take over at Stamford Bridge.
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