Despite plenty of competition all over the pitch for places in this Chelsea team, the goalkeeper role has a very clear number one choice going into the new season.
Things have certainly not been plain sailing for Robert Sanchez since he made the move from Brighton to Stamford Bridge, however the narrative surrounding the shot stopper has changed in recent months.
Chelsea fans were won over by Sanchez towards the end of the 2024/25 season, and his Club World Cup campaign saw him handed the Golden Glove award to go alongside the Blues winning the competition.
The Spaniard is set to keep Filip Jorgensen on the bench for now, while the club closely monitor the progress of Mike Penders on loan at Strasbourg.
Chelsea FC v Paris Saint-Germain: Final - FIFA Club World Cup 2025
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Robert Sanchez looking for first clean sheet vs Crystal Palace
Chelsea will begin their season at home to Crystal Palace, a side they were unable to beat across both fixtures last season.
Both meetings saw them go ahead in the first half, before being pegged back by their opponents in the second half.
Sanchez will no doubt be looking to secure a clean sheet in the season opener, and doing so would actually see him complete the feat for the first time in his career against Palace.
He has made six appearances against the London club during his time in the Premier League, conceding seven goals in that time.
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Sanchez making major improvements where it really matters
Shot stopping has never been a problem for Sanchez, and these metrics are ones he actually ranks very highly in amongst other Premier League goalkeepers.
What has been seen as a real weakness is his passing, and Chelsea have been caught in possession numerous times over the last two years playing out from the back.
However, there have been clear improvements in this side of his game, and Sanchez’s long passing has been brilliant of late, directly leading to goals in the Club World Cup and pre-season.
Despite previous reports linking them to Gianluigi Donnarumma and Mike Maignan, the Blues are set to push on with Sanchez, and his recent showings suggest he could be about to repay that faith.