By Wellington Jopelo
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has defended goalkeeper Robert Sanchez following the Blues’ 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge.
Rosenior acknowledged his own responsibility for Sanchez’s errors, stressing that the mistakes were part of a broader team effort rather than solely the goalkeeper’s fault.
Chelsea fell behind early when Sanchez failed to deal with a seventh-minute corner from Declan Rice, allowing Ben White to score from close range. Arsenal extended their lead shortly after the restart when another misjudged ball from Sanchez resulted in Viktor Gyokeres finishing from a few yards out. Martin Zubimendi later made it 3-0, putting the Gunners firmly in control.
Despite the deficit, Chelsea fought back through substitute Alejandro Garnacho, who scored twice to keep the tie alive ahead of the return leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Speaking after the match, Rosenior emphasized that Sanchez was adjusting to new tactical demands and defended the keeper’s overall performance. “It’s a team responsibility. I’m asking Rob to do things he hasn’t done before. When mistakes happen, I take accountability—that’s on me,” he said.
Rosenior highlighted a standout save from Sanchez in the second half, describing it as “world-class” and insisting the goalkeeper would continue to improve with experience under the new system.
The Chelsea boss also pointed out that injury and illness had limited his preparation time since taking charge, with Sanchez having only two days of work under him before his first home match. “I need to imprint my style on the team. That’s why I’m here,” Rosenior added.
The statement reinforced the manager’s commitment to shielding his players while taking responsibility for the team’s performance as he begins his tenure at Stamford Bridge.