Chelsea’s performance at the Club World Cup seems to have really convinced their former striker Tony Cascarino.
Chelsea were able to win the tournament after beating Paris Saint-Germain in the final. They also got their hands on the Conference League trophy, so enjoying success in the cup competitions has not really been too much of a problem for the Blues in recent years.
The league is where they have struggled, with the club having not won the Premier League title since 2017.
Jamie Carragher has given his prediction for the new season, tipping Chelsea for another top-four battle. Cascarino, though, thinks they can do better than that.
Chelsea players lift Club World Cup
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Robert Sanchez didn’t overplay at Club World Cup
For Cascarino, the problem Chelsea had last term was overplaying at the back. But after watching Robert Sanchez opt against doing that at the Club World Cup, the 62-year-old believes the ingredients are now there for his old side to mount a title challenge.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Cascarino said: “It was interesting when they won the Club World Cup because again we talked about this. The goalkeeper did not try and overplay, and that cost Chelsea quite a lot last year.
“They weren’t good enough to win the league last season. I think they can be challengers this year. I don’t see Chelsea outside the top four, I really don’t.”
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At one stage, it looked like Sanchez would not be Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper in the new season.
Earlier in the summer, Chelsea had been chasing Mike Maignan. However, after failing to sign the AC Milan goalkeeper, Sanchez retained his spot in the team at the Club World Cup and played a huge role in them winning the competition.
The Spaniard was excellent in America, especially in the final. He kept a clean sheet that day and went on to win the Golden Glove award, which is handed to the best goalkeeper at the tournament.
Robert Sánchez of Chelsea FC arrives at the stadium prior to the FIFA Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Photo by Heuler Andrey/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Robert Sanchez’s number of errors during 2024/25 Premier League season
Sanchez’s goalkeeping as a whole was very questionable last term. In total, he made five errors leading to goal. No shot-stopper in the Premier League made more.
Rank Player Errors leading to goal
1. Robert Sanchez 5
= Arijanet Muric 5
= Bart Verbruggen 5
4. Alphonse Areola 3
= Andre Onana 3
Via FootballCritic
The 27-year-old also made four errors that resulted in a chance for the opposition, so there is clearly much room for improvement.
Rank Player Errors leading to chance
1. David Raya 9
2. Emiliano Martinez 5
= Guglielmo Vicario 5
4. Robert Sanchez 4
5. Fraser Forster 3
If Sanchez can reduce the above, though, then perhaps Chelsea can do better than fourth place this time around.