“Chelsea fans, don’t come for me. We all love Chelsea, but I need to say this. There’s a glaring issue at the club right now, and if it doesn’t get resolved soon, it’s going to be a problem.” – Enzo Maresca has responded to criticism over a key decision at Chelsea, standing firm despite growing concerns among supporters. The Blues’ manager defended his approach, explaining why he has no plans to make any changes at this time.

Enzo Maresca has enjoyed a remarkable start to his tenure at Chelsea, but one decision he made continues to spark debate among fans and pundits alike.

The Italian tactician took over at Stamford Bridge this summer, replacing Mauricio Pochettino, and has so far guided the Blues to second place in the Premier League and top of their Europa Conference League group.

While Maresca has successfully transformed a young Chelsea squad into a competitive unit, his choice regarding the club’s goalkeeping position remains a contentious topic. Before the season began, the 44-year-old decided to name Robert Sanchez as his first-choice goalkeeper, despite Chelsea’s summer acquisition of highly-rated 22-year-old Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal.

Sanchez, however, has been criticized for being a weak link in Chelsea’s defense. The Spanish keeper is seen as average at best, with his struggles playing out from the back and a tendency to make costly errors. Despite this, Maresca has consistently backed the 27-year-old, who has started all but one Premier League match this season—a decision Jamie Carragher has warned could hinder Chelsea’s ambitions.

Speaking to the press on Friday ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Brentford, Maresca reiterated his confidence in Sanchez. “The idea is not to change, we trust Robert,” he said, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. “But also, in that case, we have two keepers who are both good. Until they maintain the same level, we are happy with that.”

Maresca’s unwavering support for Sanchez suggests the goalkeeper will remain a fixture in Chelsea’s starting XI for the foreseeable future. Whether this decision will prove pivotal in shaping Chelsea’s season, for better or worse, remains to be seen.