Joe Cole says there is ‘something systemically wrong’ with Chelsea’s goalkeeping situation and Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels could be a possible solution for his former team.
Robert Sanchez established himself as Chelsea’s number one under Enzo Maresca at the start of the season, holding off competition from Djordje Petrovic, who was sent to partner club Strasbourg on loan.
But a series of costly errors convinced Maresca to take Sanchez out the firing line earlier this month, with summer signing Filip Jorgensen starting the Blues’ last three league games.
It’s proven a difficult start for Jorgensen, though, with the young Dane facing strong criticism after a less-than-convincing performance in Chelsea’s 3-0 humbling away to Brighton.
Jorgensen was also largely at fault for Chelsea dropping points at the weekend after allowing Marco Asensio’s 89th-minute strike to squeeze underneath his body in a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.
‘He is okay. He feels a little bit sad and upset because he recognises it was a mistake but overall he is okay,’ Maresca said when asked how Jorgensen had reacted to the mistake.
But it appears Jorgensen will continue his run in the side against Southampton this evening, with Maresca adding: ‘If we need to change players every time there is a mistake, we will change many players but no, nothing has changed.’
Speaking on The Dressing Room Podcast, ex-Chelsea winger Cole argued that the club’s repeated mistakes in the goalkeeping department were a sign that their entire recruitment model could be broken.
‘It’s something systemically wrong because you can’t have nine goalkeepers on your books and not know which one is your number one,’ he said.
‘You’ve got Kepa [Arrizabalaga] out on loan, Petrovic out on loan, you’ve bought some young, promising ones.
‘If your system works well, you shouldn’t make as many mistakes that have been made with goalkeepers.’
Cole stressed that Chelsea have ‘just got to pick the right’ goalkeeper in the transfer market and name-checked Forest shot-stopper Sels as one of the finest in Premier League this season.
‘Do you know who I think is one of the best goalkeepers in the league at the moment? Sels from Forest,’ the three-time Premier League winner added.
‘Mate, I’m telling you. Watch him play. Assured, makes saves…
‘I don’t know whether he’s having a golden period in his time but they are out there. You’ve just got to pick the right one.’
Cole’s namesake, Carlton Cole, suggested the Stamford Bridge giants have not had a ‘settled goalkeeper’ since Thibaut Courtois left for Real Madrid in 2018.
‘Since Courtois it hasn’t been the same. They’ve not had a settled goalkeeper,’ the ex-Chelsea, West Ham and England striker chimed in.
‘They’ve tried [Edouard] Mendy, Kepa came and he’s arguing with the gaffer in the League Cup final!
‘There has been no law and order there. They need to get some kind of form of goalkeepers.
‘There’s loads of goalkeepers, go into Europe. They might not be in the top leagues but just try and source it out.’
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