Enzo Maresca has made his decision regarding Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper following Robert Sanchez’s recent high-profile errors.

Enzo Maresca has officially confirmed his choice for Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper for the upcoming matches.

 

Previously, it was believed that the Portuguese coach was still deliberating over the goalkeeping position following a series of costly errors by Robert Sanchez.

 

During Chelsea’s January fixtures, the Spanish goalkeeper faced criticism for his lack of confidence in goal, particularly after being responsible for Manchester City’s second goal in a 3-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

 

Despite the backlash from supporters, who were calling for Filip Jorgensen to be given a chance, Maresca initially defended Sanchez and expressed his continued trust in him. However, on Thursday, the Chelsea boss announced that Jorgensen would now be the team’s primary goalkeeper, allowing Sanchez time to recover both mentally and physically.

 

Explaining his decision, Maresca stated: “I mentioned that starting Filip against West Ham was also about giving Robert some time to regain his mental and physical sharpness. The plan is not to rotate goalkeepers from game to game. Right now, Filip played in our last Premier League match against West Ham, which we won, while Robert featured in the FA Cup. At this moment, our starting goalkeeper is Filip.”

 

Chelsea currently sits fourth in the Premier League table with 43 points, trailing Nottingham Forest by four points. They had a strong start to the season, sitting just two points behind league leaders Liverpool in mid-December. However, their form dipped significantly in early 2025.

 

Sanchez was frequently criticized by fans for his costly mistakes, including an error against Wolves when he mishandled a cross from a corner, allowing Matt Doherty to score in the 45th minute at Stamford Bridge.

 

Maresca also shared details of his conversation with Sanchez regarding the decision: “I spoke with Robert a few days before the West Ham match when I made the call to start Filip. Since then, I haven’t discussed it with him again, nor with Filip. They both understand the situation, and we’ll see how things develop.”

 

Jorgensen, a 22-year-old Danish goalkeeper, joined Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer of 2024 for £20.7 million. He was brought in as a suitable fit for Maresca’s tactical approach, especially with Kepa Arrizabalaga spending the season on loan at Bournemouth.

 

So far, Jorgensen has made three Premier League appearances, conceding four goals. He played a key role in Chelsea’s journey to the Conference League round of 16, featuring in all eight group-stage matches. He is now expected to start again in Chelsea’s upcoming league fixture against Brighton at the American Express Stadium on Friday night.