“It’s not just Sanchez but you need to bench him also. I have been saying this for a while and his terrible performance has just proved my point” – This is according to John Mikel Obi as he claims that Maresca now needs to bench Chelsea’s underperforming 4/10 player who was completely ‘outmuscled’

Chelsea endured a frustrating 3-1 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday evening, failing to capitalize on an early lead at the Etihad Stadium.

Despite taking the advantage in just the third minute, the Blues allowed City to regain control, ultimately succumbing to the Premier League champions’ dominance in the second half.

Chelsea’s opening goal came in an unusual fashion after City’s new signing, Abdukodir Khusanov, misplaced a poor header intended for goalkeeper Ederson. Nicolas Jackson quickly capitalized on the mistake, setting up Noni Madueke for a simple tap-in to make it 1-0.

However, City responded just before halftime when Josko Gvardiol finished off a loose ball following a one-on-one battle inside the penalty area. The home side then took the lead in a disastrous sequence for Chelsea, as Erling Haaland exploited a defensive lapse to lob goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who was inexplicably caught off his line.

With the game nearing its conclusion, City struck again three minutes before full-time, with Phil Foden finishing comfortably after receiving a layoff from Haaland.

It was a frustrating performance for Chelsea, particularly given their bright start. Among those who struggled the most was goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

Sanchez’s Struggles at the Etihad

The Spanish shot-stopper endured another difficult outing, arguably his worst of the season. He appeared unsettled throughout the match, with City’s attack repeatedly exposing Chelsea’s defensive frailties.

Sanchez had an early scare when he was beaten by new City arrival Omar Marmoush, though the goal was ruled offside. His most glaring mistake, however, came on Haaland’s goal, where he was caught out of position, leaving the Norwegian forward with a simple lobbed finish.

Football journalist Malik Ouzia rated Sanchez’s performance a dismal 3/10, describing his positioning for Haaland’s goal as “baffling” and questioning how he continues to retain his spot in Chelsea’s starting lineup.

Sofascore data further highlighted Sanchez’s struggles, revealing that he conceded 0.68 goals more than expected, committed an error directly leading to a goal, and completed just eight of his 26 attempted long balls.

With Filip Jorgensen available as an alternative in goal, manager Enzo Maresca faces a major decision ahead of Chelsea’s next match.

Colwill’s Tough Night Against City

Defender Levi Colwill also endured a difficult evening, struggling to cope with City’s attacking power. Football analyst Rory described Haaland as having “bullied” the young defender, particularly during City’s third goal, where the Norwegian used his strength to hold off Colwill before assisting Foden.

Ouzia rated Colwill at 4/10, only slightly better than Sanchez, noting that the Chelsea defender was physically outmatched and nearly gifted Haaland another scoring opportunity.

Statistically, Colwill’s performance reflected his struggles. He won just one of his three aerial duels, made an error leading to a shot, and lost possession eight times. Despite completing 90% of his passes, his defensive frailties proved costly.

Maresca Faces Selection Dilemmas

Maresca now has a crucial decision to make regarding his starting lineup. In goal, Jorgensen offers a viable alternative to Sanchez, while in defense, the Chelsea manager could turn to Josh Acheampong, Axel Disasi, or Tosin Adarabioyo in place of Colwill.

With options available, Maresca must decide whether to stick with his struggling players or make changes to avoid further setbacks. Regardless of his choices, Chelsea will be desperate for a response in their next fixture.