Former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has delivered a frank assessment of current Blues number one Robert Sanchez, claiming the Spaniard remains a "problem" for the club despite showing significant improvement over the last six months.
Consistency the key issue for Chelsea stopper
Schwarzer, speaking to Joe Fortune ahead of Chelsea's clash with Aston Villa, pinpointed consistency as the major flaw in Sanchez's game. The Australian legend argued that elite clubs require unwavering reliability from their last line of defence, citing examples from rivals Manchester City and Manchester United.
"The problem is his consistency," Schwarzer stated. "When you're at a big club, you need consistency. Look at Manchester United and Andre Onana, Man City and Gianluigi Donnarumma coming in and what he's done already."
Dramatic improvement but old habits linger
Schwarzer was quick to acknowledge the dramatic improvement Sanchez has made since his £25 million move from Brighton in 2023. The goalkeeper has cut out many of the high-profile mistakes that marred his early career at Stamford Bridge and produced a man-of-the-match performance in the Club World Cup final.
"I will say for Robert Sanchez, I think in the last six months, [he] has improved dramatically," Schwarzer admitted. "He hasn't made as many mistakes as he had done previously. I think he's made some big saves. The Club World Cup final, I think for me, was by far the best game he's ever played for Chelsea."
However, Schwarzer identified a persistent weakness: distribution and playing out from the back. "I think playing out from the back, with his feet at times, he's been caught out. He's made some poor decisions with his distribution. So that's something that he still needs to very much work on and improve upon."
A long way from top-class status
The former Blues shot-stopper delivered a blunt verdict on whether Sanchez is at the level required for a club with Chelsea's ambitions. "I just don't feel like he's at that level," Schwarzer said. "Look, there's a chance that he can get there, but I think he's still got some way to go."
He also highlighted how Sanchez's difficult start at the club continues to haunt him, making him a target for fan criticism at the first sign of error. "The minute he makes a poor decision with his distribution, fans are on his back and it's because he's done it too often, I think, in a Chelsea shirt."
Despite these concerns, Schwarzer noted that manager Enzo Maresca appears content with his goalkeeper, having firmly established him as the undisputed number one this season. This clarity, Schwarzer believes, has been beneficial for Sanchez's performances.
"Ultimately that's what matters," Schwarzer concluded. "The manager is happy enough with the players he has... and he's made him clearly now his number one, which I think had to be done. I think certainly Robert Sanchez this season has flourished under the fact that he knows he's number one at the club."
