Luis de la Fuente recently discussed a Chelsea player who has become underrated in recent months.
The Blues are struggling right now. It’s an obvious statement considering Enzo Maresca has left the job after a woeful month of December.
The poor performances have been less about individuals and more a failure of the collective.
It’s a noticeable difference from last season, and even the opening weeks of the current Premier League campaign, when errors at the back were costing Chelsea regularly.
One of the biggest culprits, though, has truly changed his ways this season — so much so that he has entered the Spain manager’s thoughts.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty ImagesLuis de la Fuente gives Robert Sanchez his flowers
The decision to keep Sanchez at Chelsea has paid dividends.
Since the summer, he looked a player renewed at Chelsea and seems to have eliminated the rage-inducing mistakes that would creep into his game on a regular basis last season.
The Spanish stopper still hasn’t fully shaken the reputation — it’s hard to do in the age of social media — but as a result, Sanchez is one of Chelsea’s most underrated players.
Don’t just take it from me.
Who is Chelsea’s best goalkeeper?
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In a recent interview with AS, De la Fuente remarks: “Five or six of the best goalkeepers in the world. But no one talks about Robert Sánchez. No one talks about Leo Román… and Joan García, obviously. I mean, we have fantastic goalkeepers in Spain – truly fantastic.”
Spain have a golden generation of Casillas-inspired goalkeepers who can all play at the very top level.
Of them all, Sanchez has an argument for most in-form. Even when Chelsea have conceded poorly, it’s usually not down to the man between the sticks.
Robert Sanchez’s World Cup prospects
Having mentioned the golden generation of keepers currently at De la Fuente’s disposal, it becomes easier to understand why Sanchez’s hopes of a ticket to the World Cup aren’t the highest.
As the Spain boss explains: “It’s true that right now we’re backing these three. And we’re absolutely delighted with Unai [Simon], with David [Raya], and with Álex [Remiro].
“But we’ll see what happens between now and March – just look how much can still happen – and then what happens by June, only God knows that.”
Plenty of Chelsea representation at the World Cup 🏆
Who has the best chance of winning football’s biggest prize?
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
England – Cole Palmer, Reece James
France – Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana*
Spain – Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez*
Argentina – Enzo Fernandez, Alejandro Garnacho
Brazil – Joao Pedro, Estevao Willian
Portugal – Pedro Neto
could go*
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Sanchez has a ways to go to compete for a seat on the plane this summer, but he can do it. If he continues this form at Chelsea, he may leave his coach with no choice but to give him his chance.
Regardless of whether he makes it with the national team, Chelsea fans will be ecstatic if their number one can maintain this level. Talks of a departure won’t even come into play.
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