Chelsea fans will not see the best version of Liam Rosenior’s era until the new season. Not until the new gaffer gets a pre-season under his belt, and can replace the players he needs to replace.
Thrown into the hotseat in mid-January, Rosenior has now been in the job for six weeks and in that time, he’s managed Chelsea for 13 games. Eight wins, two draws, and three losses have come under Rosenior.
It’s solid form despite the run of three Premier League games without a win. Hardly Rosenior’s fault that Chelsea decided to implode against Leeds and Burnley, and not his fault Arsenal scored from two corners.
Who deserves the blame for Liam Rosenior’s first Premier League defeat?
Rosenior? Pedro Neto? Robert Sanchez?
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Rosenior even says Chelsea worked on set-pieces all week, only to concede twice on Sunday. This is a Chelsea side that Rosenior is managing, not a Rosenior side just yet. The summer window changes that.
Rosenior gets a whole pre-season to instill his ideas, to bring in the players he wants and, importantly, which players he wants rid of. The first on the chopping block, after Sunday, has got to be Sanchez.
Even Liam Rosenior has had enough of Robert Sanchez
This season, Spanish goalkeeper Sanchez has been brilliant in some matches. Away in Napoli, the draw with Arsenal under Enzo Maresca and a handful of other matches have seen Sanchez show his best.
Arsenal v Chelsea - Premier League
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
But Sanchez’s problem is a lack of concentration, and it sees the former Brighton man constantly make big errors. Howlers. Two in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, and almost two on Sunday.
Rosenior had his head in his hands when £25m Sanchez almost lost possession on the edge of his box. His passing was shocking, and he was far too weak when Arsenal scored their second goal of the game.
Chelsea need to sign a new goalkeeper, it’s a priority
Even Trevoh Chalobah was fuming with Sanchez on Sunday. If Rosenior was unsure about replacing Sanchez in the summer, he will be now. It simply has to happen, and it has to be a transfer priority.
Who will get sent off next? 🔴
Something is telling me Andrey Santos! 🤷♂️
Chelsea players to have been sent off
Already, Chelsea have been linked with new goalkeepers. With Mike Maignan signing a new contract at Milan, the Blues have been linked with £50m-rated Premier League duo Bart Verbruggen and Robin Roefs.
Whether Roefs or Verbruggen are the answer remains to be seen. But what is clear, is that Chelsea need a new goalkeeper who can instill confidence in the defence, and eradicate the errors Sanchez displays.
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