Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney has criticized Chelsea’s backline and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, suggesting that the Blues would be genuine title contenders if they could shore up their defense.
Under new manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea has enjoyed a solid start to the season, currently sitting in third place in the Premier League and leading the Conference League. However, despite their impressive position, Deeney believes Chelsea’s inability to consistently keep clean sheets has hindered their title ambitions. The Blues have managed just five clean sheets in 19 games across all competitions, with their defense continuing to leak “poor goals.”
Speaking after Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Leicester, Deeney pointed to Chelsea’s defensive lapses as a major stumbling block. “Right now, they should be looking at the title race,” Deeney said. “But I still think that goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and the defenders keep letting in poor goals. That should have been an easy 2-0 win, if not a 3-0 win. They were just too open at the back.”
Deeney went on to suggest that unless Chelsea strengthens its defense in the January transfer window, the team’s backline will continue to undermine their pursuit of silverware. “That backline is going to cost them. They have to go for top four right now,” he added.
Sanchez, in particular, has come under scrutiny for several costly errors this season. The Spaniard has made three mistakes leading directly to goals, the most of any player in the Premier League, alongside Ipswich’s Arijanet Muric. However, Maresca has consistently backed his goalkeeper, despite the mounting criticism.
“Yes, Sanchez made mistakes, but he also did so many good things,” Maresca said in defense of his goalkeeper. “At the end, it is football. I ask Robert to play the ball out from the back, and if he stops doing that, he won’t play. If Robert makes a mistake, it’s not Robert’s problem, it’s my mistake because I asked that from him.”
Maresca emphasized that Sanchez’s role in building the attack from the back was crucial to Chelsea’s style of play, with the goalkeeper often making key passes to forwards like Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto, which have led to goal-scoring opportunities. “Sometimes you make mistakes, but it is not going to change the way we are going to play,” Maresca added.
Despite Maresca’s backing of Sanchez, Deeney’s comments highlight a growing concern that Chelsea’s defensive shortcomings could prevent them from mounting a serious title challenge in the Premier League this season.
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