There were contrasting fortunes in the Chelsea dressing room following Spain’s official World Cup squad announcement, as Marc Cucurella and Robert Sanchez learned their fate.
Marc Cucurella and Robert Sanchez experienced contrasting campaigns during Chelsea‘s turbulent season.
Cucurella enjoyed a relatively consistent year at left-back, racking up over 2,710 minutes of action. He proved to be a reliable defensive presence, winning 120 duels and showcasing his versatility since moving to a five-back formation under Calum McFarlane.
In sharp contrast, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez endured a deeply frustrating and erratic season. While he managed nine clean sheets across nearly 3,000 minutes, his campaign was plagued by costly lapses.
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Players of Chelsea form a huddle
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Robert Sanchez won’t be going to the World Cup, but Marc Cucurella will be
Spain announced their World Cup squad on X ahead of this summer’s tournament, but there will only be one Chelsea player getting on the plane.
Cucurella featured, but Robert Sanchez is missing after a disappointing season.
Marc Cucurella has firmly established himself as a vital piece of the Spanish national team, starting consistently throughout Euro 2024 and maintaining his left-back spot through the recent Nations League and World Cup qualifying campaigns.
By contrast, Robert Sanchez has become a forgotten figure for La Roja. His last competitive taste of international football was a brief, 45-minute friendly appearance against Jordan all the way back in November 2022, just before the Qatar World Cup.
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Trevoh Chalobah of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Wesley Fofana
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea’s goalkeeping situation ahead of next season
Chelsea’s recruitment plans for next season have shifted dramatically following the appointment of Xabi Alonso. The original boardroom strategy was to eventually hand the gloves to highly-rated teenager Mike Penders upon his return from Strasbourg, but there may be a far more proven, immediate solution.
As a result, Chelsea are potentially looking at established European quality.
AC Milan’s Mike Maignan has emerged as a target, as well as Premier League options like Caoimhin Kelleher, Bart Verbruggen, and Sunderland standout Robin Roefs.
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