Chelsea have been warned they will ‘never win the Premier League’ with error-prone goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
The Blues emerged as Premier League title contenders earlier in the season but now find themselves in a real battle just to qualify for the Champions League.
One of the glaring issues during Chelsea’s alarming drop-off has been in goal, with Enzo Maresca dropping Sanchez last month and then recalling the Spaniard in favour of Filip Jorgensen.
Sanchez had made more errors leading to goals than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League at the time he was dropped.
£25m signing Sanchez was in goal for Sunday’s much-needed 1-0 win over Leicester City but did little to win over one of his biggest critics, ex-Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel.
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Speaking on his podcast, the two-time Premier League winner said: ‘It was a difficult game and I have to give credit to Leicester because they did play well.
‘They had a few glimpses here and there – there was a mistake from Sanchez again which luckily didn’t result in a goal.
‘But what was he doing? I don’t get it. The defenders could deal with the cross and he’s come out again. I don’t know where he was going.
‘You look at that and you know, we cannot win the league with this goalkeeper.
‘The manager is also trying and he rotated them for a bit but you know he’s thinking he wants to get another goalkeeper, a top goalkeeper, at the end of the season. Right now he has to make do with what he has.’
Given Obi Mikel’s criticism of Sanchez, it will come as no surprise that he wants Chelsea to bring in a new goalkeeper in the summer.
But the Stamford Bridge hero believes there are two other areas Chelsea also need to invest to create a title-winning side.
‘There’s been some positives for Chelsea lately and getting back into the top-four will be really important,’ he added. ‘It’s where we should finish, it’s where we belong as a club.
‘We have to build for next season and get the right players in, we need some new signings to improve the team because Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City will be better next season.
‘We have to make the right signings. There’s a few places we need to strengthen, it’s not a secret. The fans are crying out for a new striker, goalkeeper and centre-half.
‘Then we will be there competing because the team are going to get stronger next season.’
Chelsea return to Europa Conference League action on Thursday night against Copenhagen before facing London rivals Arsenal at the weekend.
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