Petrovic and Sanchez are NOT Maresca's answer to Chelsea's goalkeeper problem

20 Jul 2024 20:00 BST
4 min read

Djordje Petrovic, Robert Sanchez, Chelsea — © IMAGO

Chelsea have spent more than €1 billion on players since Todd Boehly’s takeover in 2022 but Enzo Maresca’s are set to continue investing in a crucial problem position in the team.

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The Blues have brought in 34 players in the two years under their new owners, leading to a squad size of more than 40 first teamers, but ‘only’ three of their signings have been goalkeepers, none of whom appear to have convinced Maresca of their credentials.

Chelsea signed youngster Gabriel Slonina for €9 million in 2022 before spending €39m on Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic last year, but Maresca has asked the club to bring in a new shotstopper this summer, as FootballTransfers exclusively revealed.

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Maresca believes none of Chelsea’s keepers are capable of executing his possession-based style of play and the club will now look to bring in a new number one.

At least one of Chelsea’s goalkeepers will have to leave, with speculation suggesting that Petrovic could be the player most likely to make way this summer.

With forgotten goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga also set to depart and Slonina likely to be loaned out, Maresca’s has recognised that Chelsea’s need for an elite goalkeeper should become one of the club’s top priorities this summer.

© IMAGO - New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has already stamped his authority on the team.

Petrovic v Sanchez – which keeper comes out on top?

No team in the top half of the Premier League underperformed their xGA more than Chelsea last season, with their shotstoppers conceding 0.4 more goals than expected to.

While that number may appear insignificant, Chelsea were the only team in the top nine to have a negative performance with their xGA, with Manchester United, for example, conceding 16.76 less goals than their xGA.

Considering Chelsea also conceded more goals than any other top-eight team, there is certainly room for improvement between the sticks for the Blues.

Sanchez started 16 of Chelsea’s Premier League games last season before suffering an injury in December, which led to Petrovic replacing him for the final 22 matches.

However, Petrovic conceded more goals per game than Sanchez and also had one of the worst xG prevention rates in the league, ranking 21st of 25 goalkeepers.

Compared

VS

2023/2024

Season Statistics

2023/2024

21	Appearances	31
1884	Minutes Played	2766
695	Passes	887

The Serbian also had a worse time passing the ball, completing just 31.3% of his long passes (over 40 yards) – the fifth worst in the league – while Sanchez was the fourth-highest at 41.5%.

While neither goalkeeper seems the long-term answer for Chelsea, Sanchez perhaps suits Maresca’s playstyle more, however the Spaniard’s shotstopping still leaves much to be desired, having just the 11th-best save percentage and a negative xGA prevention.

Maresca has been correct in noticing Chelsea’s need for a goalkeeper during his first weeks at Stamford Bridge and targeting an improvement could be the catalyst to help the Blues progress in the Italian’s debut season.