Enzo Maresca admits Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is ‘sad and upset’ after his blunder against Aston Villa, but he will remain first choice for now.
The Blues have had issues in goal all season as Robert Sanchez started as first choice but was eventually dropped due to poor form.
Summer signing Jorgensen has come into the side but not really impressed, with a clear error late in the game against Villa on Saturday.
The 22-year-old let Marco Asensio’s tame effort squirm under his body to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory for the Villains in the 89th minute.
Maresca says the former Villarreal man has been affected by the error, feeling ‘sad and upset’ since the trip to Villa Park.
‘He is okay. He feels a little bit sad and upset because he recognises it was a mistake but overall he is okay,’ said the Italian.
Asked if it put Jorgensen’s place in the starting XI under threat, Maresca dismissed the idea that one mistake will see a player dropped.
‘If we need to change players every time there is a mistake, we will change many players but no, nothing has changed,’ he said.
Speaking after the late loss at Villa Park on Saturday evening, Maresca said: ‘The keeper position is very delicate.
‘When they make a mistake it’s clear for everyone. Unfortunately, Filip made a mistake. But in this moment, he’s our keeper and we need to stay strong and continue to support each other.
‘In some games, both our keepers have been brilliant, but as I said it’s a delicate position.’
Chelsea have been on a very disappointing run, with three defeats in their last four Premier League games, while they were also knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton this month as well.
Maresca’s side has slipped to seventh in the table and talk of a title challenge earlier in the season feels a long time ago now.
The Blues host rock-bottom Southampton on Tuesday night, so have a good opportunity to turn things around, but the manager says they must be much better in both penalty boxes.
On their recent struggles, he said: ‘Probably there are always more than one reason. In the last seven, eight, 10 games, the huge difference for me has been especially inside the box – both boxes.
‘We always create chances so the difference has been inside the box. We need to be defensively more strong and more clinical when we get the chance.’
There has been some concern over the form of Cole Palmer, who had another superb first half of the campaign but has not scored since 14 January.
Asked if he had worries about his star player, Maresca said: ‘No. I’m always concerned about general performance but I’m not concerned about Cole.
‘Cole is a human being. The problem with Cole is probably we rely on Cole for everything and I’ve said since the start, we need to rely on the team. We are not worried about Cole at all.’
