Unpopular Chelsea player had “inspired start to the season” and will be essential against Bayern | OneFootball

As Chelsea regenerated their squad this summer, there was an elephant in the room that was never addressed.

Robert Sanchez was never a popular choice as first choice goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge, and there have been question marks over him ever since he signed. He didn’t help his cause much last season with some high profile and damaging mistakes.

Chelsea ignore chance to pursue new goalkeeper option

Robert Sanchez against West Ham. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

However, apart from one brief flirtation with Mike Maignan of AC Milan, there hasn’t been much talk of the Blues signing anyone better, much to the frustration of some fans who fear the Spaniard will let them down in some crucial spot again this season.

But perhaps he’s turning things around? He’s always been capable of some top saves, they were just too regularly interspersed with errors. He made 10 mistakes that led to an opposition shot last season, and half of those led to a goal against Chelsea.

However this season he’s not made any, and has looked more confident in possession.

Article defends Sanchez efforts in goal for Blues

Dom Smith’s article for the Evening Standard points to all the signs that Sanchez is finding his feet. Chelsea have the best defence in the Premier League since February, for starters.

Smith puts this recent improvement down to the confidence boost of winning the Golden Glove at the Club World Cup, and points to his good showing on Saturday night against Brentford as an example of his improvement.

Bayern Munich tomorrow night will be a huge test, but as Smith says: “Sanchez has a fine centre-back partnership in front of him in the form of Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin, and the goalkeeper himself has made an inspired start to the season.”

Will it be enough to keep the German giants at bay?