Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has urged Xabi Alonso to make a ruthless decision and replace goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after another error-strewn performance in the Blues' 3-2 Premier League opening win at Fulham. Leboeuf, speaking to ESPNFC, said the 28-year-old's latest calamitous display should be the final straw, insisting Alonso must 'find someone else really quickly' because Sanchez is not there to save the club when it matters.
Sanchez error mars Chelsea's attacking statement
Chelsea got their campaign off to a winning start at Craven Cottage, edging a five-goal thriller against their west London rivals. Alonso's new-look side demonstrated the attacking potential that has marked them out as potential title contenders, with Cole Palmer looking refreshed after a summer of rest and getting on the scoresheet, alongside Joao Pedro and debutant Morgan Rogers.
Despite significant reinforcements over the summer, the Blues still looked less than secure at the back, not helped by another error-strewn performance from Sanchez. The goalkeeper, who joined Chelsea from Brighton three years ago, has never fully convinced under a succession of managers who have all attempted to ease him out of the side.
Leboeuf: 'You cannot waste that by making silly mistakes'
Leboeuf was critical of Sanchez's display, particularly for Josh King's equaliser, which he said was a good shot but one the goalkeeper should have controlled. 'Why do you open up at the front post? You have to be there and control that, you cannot concede a goal on that side. It's impossible, you play for Chelsea,' Leboeuf told ESPNFC.
He added: 'I felt they were shaky like everybody else. You know as a defender at the back when you don't have a Barthez or a great goalkeeper you don't feel confident, therefore you get shaky. You see on the second goal with Colwill he should've got on the ball with the header and you have nobody behind to save you when you make a mistake.'
Leboeuf acknowledged the difficulty of being a goalkeeper but stressed that Sanchez's history of errors is well known. 'It's hard to be a goalkeeper because you have nobody behind you but we know Sanchez. We have known him for a while and that he can do mistakes. But when you play for a club like Chelsea and you see what they can do offensively they were perfect the three guys up front scoring three goals away from home that's great, but you cannot waste that by making silly mistakes.'
He concluded: 'There is an issue and Xabi Alonso has to find someone else really quickly. It's been an issue for a while, we don't want to see that any more. All due respect to Sanchez we tried, it doesn't work and when it's important he's not there to save the club so we have to find another one.'
Alonso refuses to criticise Sanchez after the match
Alonso, meanwhile, would not be drawn into criticising Sanchez after the game. The goalkeeper left too much room at his near post for King's equaliser and was slow to get down, the shot zipping between his wrists and in. 'It's not about individuals,' said Alonso. 'We can adjust a few things. The first goal, we can do better to defend, to avoid that. It's part of the game. We need to accept and to learn. This is going to be a process. All the lines – strikers, midfielders, defence, goalkeeper – we want to do better in everything. The goal was to start good. It's been a good start. Relax and carry on.'
Chelsea's win over Fulham marks a positive start to their Premier League campaign, but the ongoing concerns over Sanchez's reliability could prove costly as the season progresses. With Alonso's side showing title-winning potential in attack, the decision over their goalkeeper may be one of the most significant of the early season.
