Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has been told he may need to find a new first-choice goalkeeper after fresh criticism of Robert Sanchez's "mentally suspect" performances.
The warning comes from former Premier League striker Troy Deeney, who analysed the Spaniard's error-strewn display in Chelsea's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday night.
Costly Errors in Semi-Final Defeat
Arsenal took a giant step towards the final with a 3-2 victory at Stamford Bridge on January 14, 2026. Goals from Ben White and Viktor Gyokeres inside 49 minutes gave the Gunners a commanding lead, with Sanchez at fault for both.
For the opener, the goalkeeper was caught flapping at Declan Rice's corner, allowing White a simple finish. Worse was to follow for the second, as he allowed the ball to squeeze underneath his body for Gyokeres to poke home.
Chelsea showed fight in the second period, with substitute Alejandro Garnacho scoring twice either side of Martin Zubimendi's superb 71st-minute strike for Arsenal. The 3-2 scoreline leaves the tie finely poised ahead of the return leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Deeney's Damning Verdict on Sanchez
Speaking on CBS Sports, Deeney did not hold back in his assessment of the Chelsea number one. He argued the problem is not Sanchez's technical ability, but a fatal lack of concentration in crucial moments.
"When you talk about Sanchez, you're not talking about his abilities," Deeney said. "It's mental and the best goalkeepers are the ones that can stay mentally focussed all the way through. He keeps showing you who he is, he keeps letting you down. It's mentally, he switches off."
The former Watford captain emphasised that title-winning teams require a reliable last line of defence. "The ones that win normally have a goalkeeper that can save you in big moments. The bigger the game, the bigger the moment, he normally would be the one they're worrying about."
Deeney believes opposition teams will actively target Sanchez. "If I'm an opposition coach or player, I'm going, 'Cross it, put it right on him', and keep making him make mistakes," he added.
Rosenior's Defence and Mounting Pressure
Deeney's CBS colleague, Nigel Reo-Coker, supported the critique, stating Sanchez is not the goalkeeper to take Chelsea to the next level. "When you're talking about goalkeepers in big games like that, you can't defend him. He just doesn't ever look comfortable under crosses," Reo-Coker said.
Facing the media after the defeat, newly appointed boss Liam Rosenior attempted to shoulder the blame for his goalkeeper's mistakes. He explained he is asking Sanchez to adapt to new methods after only two days of working together.
"I'm asking Rob to do things that he hasn't done before. When my players make mistakes, I'm accountable. That's on me," Rosenior told reporters. He pointed to a world-class save Sanchez made in the second half as evidence of his ability, urging patience.
"I protect my players. I have a lot of faith that in the long term we'll improve as a team. My job is to help them, not to blame them," the Chelsea manager concluded.
However, with the second leg at the Emirates looming and Chelsea's season hanging in the balance, the debate over whether Sanchez is a liability in goal is intensifying. Rosenior's faith will be severely tested in the coming weeks.
