Chelsea’s goalkeeping coach Michele De Bernardin doesn’t solely prepare Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen on find out how to catch and clear, dive and deny. The Enzo Maresca lookalike – relaxation assured, I’ve seen each Italians in the identical room – sometimes works with the outfielders too.
He teaches the gamers the place to be and when, perfecting their positioning so there’s at all times a cross accessible for his or her goalkeeper. Video classes are organized at Cobham for this very goal.
It’s due to this fact very important that Chelsea have somebody between their sticks with toes as secure as his fingers and a mind to match. He would not must be as correct as William Inform with an arrow, however he can’t be so careless as to constantly shoot himself, and by extension the workforce, within the foot.
In coaching, Sanchez and Jorgensen frequently take part in passing drills. That features rondos – the glorified recreation of piggy within the center the place gamers stand in a circle and cross the ball round at pace – as Chelsea attempt to good their goalkeepers’ approach beneath stress from pressers.
In matches, nonetheless, query marks are persevering with to be positioned subsequent to Sanchez’s passing capability and decision-making, his personal team-mate Levi Colwill complaining after having the ball casually performed to him within the 68th minute of their 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Chelsea want to get their goalkeepers taking part in the best way Enzo Maresca desires them to
Coach Michele De Bernardin doesn’t solely prepare goalkeepers however outfield gamers too
Sanchez (proper) is at present Chelsea’s No 1 however there’s concern over his ball-playing skills
Colwill conceded a throw-in as a result of Marcus Rashford was respiration down his neck and 12 seconds later, Sanchez was clumsily lunging into Rasmus Hojlund as United gained the penalty that led to their objective.
From the skin, it’s laborious to not conclude that if Chelsea are to grow to be the primary membership to finish the Premier League monopoly of Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool, they might do with their very own Ederson or Alisson. On the within, Maresca insists he has full confidence in his present setup and that in Sanchez, he sees somebody who can grow to be top-of-the-line.
Chelsea’s head coach has sufficient goalkeeping specialists inside his entourage to ask their opinions on first-choice Sanchez and second-choice Jorgensen and, crucially, whether or not they’re in secure fingers with both or if they might do with trying elsewhere.
There’s Willy Caballero, Hilario, Carlo Cudicini and Ross Turnbull – 4 males working in numerous capacities for the membership who know what it takes to play for them within the Premier League.
There’s De Bernardin, who has 26 years’ expertise coaching shot-stoppers. There’s Ben Roberts, one other goalkeeping coach who Maresca insisted on staying when he arrived from Leicester in the summertime. There’s James Russell, the pinnacle of academy goalkeeping who additionally assists the primary workforce. It’s virtually a GK HQ.
Hell, if Maresca wished some goal recommendation from exterior, he might name a legend in Gianluigi Buffon, his goalkeeper when he was supervisor of Parma in Italy’s Serie B a couple of years again.
Chelsea’s goalkeeping debate will stay as long as the identical supporters who as soon as took nice consolation within the safety of Petr Cech are left choking on the hearts of their mouths on match days.
Mail Sport requested Maresca final week if Jorgensen was near taking up as first alternative, to which the 44-year-old Italian mentioned it was not at present into consideration. He has, nonetheless, warned Sanchez that the second he stops making an attempt to cross his method out of the again, he will probably be axed.
Maresca (pictured) has insisted that Sanchez will probably be dropped the second he stops taking part in out
No 2 Filip Jorgensen has said his case in cup competitions however stays back-up for now
Ex-Blues goalkeeper Hilario is aware of what it takes to signify Chelsea within the Premier League
Willy Caballero (proper), previously of the likes of Man Metropolis and the Blues, can also be a part of the workers
You want solely look to final season to know how pivotal it’s to his philosophy. When Maresca took over at Leicester in the summertime of 2023, he signed Mads Hermansen inside a month of his arrival and the 24-year-old Dane went on to play extra passes than any goalkeeper on document in a single Championship season.
There are some people related to Leicester who say Maresca wished to deliver Hermansen with him to Chelsea. They declare it’s nonetheless a deal which may very well be finished. No one at Stamford Bridge is keen to again that up, nor whether or not there are every other names into consideration, with insiders insisting they’re fortunately working with what they’ve.
No 1 Sanchez could be a tremendous saver, however the 26-year-old Spaniard is irritating followers together with his toes, some even booing throughout their 2-1 Premier League win over Newcastle as soon as fed up together with his faults. Not captured by the cameras was Maresca’s venting to his colleagues after the £25million signing from Brighton gave away the ball for the umpteenth time, and that was solely within the first half.
No 2 Jorgensen has tried to make use of his alternatives within the Europa Convention League and Carabao Cup. The £20.7m summer season signing from Villarreal’s newest probability got here on Thursday when Noah visited Stamford Bridge. Jorgensen saved a clear sheet, although any plaudits got here with the caveat that he was going through a aspect sitting fourth in Armenia. Solely 22 years outdated, the Denmark Beneath-21 worldwide appears like much less of a legal responsibility when choosing his passes, however he’s not but Premier League examined.
Chelsea have gone by means of plenty of goalkeepers down the years. That features Kepa Arrizabalaga, their £71.6m signing – a world document for a goalkeeper – who’s now on mortgage at Bournemouth, with a £5m launch clause that’s anticipated to grow to be lively on the finish of the season.
Chelsea insist they imagine in Sanchez, and have excessive hopes for Jorgensen, however proper now, neither carry the texture of an Ederson or Alisson. That is a matter when, for Maresca, every little thing begins on the again.
