Enzo Maresca delivers Robert Sanchez verdict after howler in Chelsea's defeat to Man City | OneFootball

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca insisted that he still "trusts" goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after a disastrous performance during Saturday's defeat to Manchester City, but did not commit to blindly sticking with the error-prone Spaniard.

Sanchez didn't cover himself in glory for City's equaliser at the Etihad Stadium, failing to close down Matheus Nunes before the ball spilled to Josko Gvardiol on the cusp of half time. However, the goalkeeper saved his best blunder for the second half.

After bizarrely charging out of his area in an aborted attempt to intercept a long ball over the top for Erling Haaland, Sanchez was caught in two minds as to whether he should backtrack on to his goal line, or running towards the ball. In the end, he did neither, and was expertly chipped by City's ruthless number nine.

This is hardly Sanchez's first misstep - no player in the Premier League has committed more errors directly leading to goals than the 27-year-old's five this season.

When reflecting on the 3-1 loss, a game in which Chelsea took a commanding lead after just three minutes, Maresca sighed: "We trust Robert for sure, but in the same moment the first one who is aware he is making mistakes is Robert. Now we are one entire week [to train] and we see the reaction and decide for the next game."

The Italian coach added: "Robert for sure is completely aware that he has to do better. He was completely aware after the game, he knows perfectly.

"The good thing is that he is the first one knowing he has to do better."

Maresca has been keen to defend his goalkeeper against criticism this season, but warned that the Spain international was "still far, far, far from where I want him to be" in the days before the weekend trip to the Etihad.

The Blues have regularly fielded Danish shot-stopper Filip Jorgensen in cup competitions this season. The 22-year-old summer recruit from Villarreal has appeared in just two Premier League games this season - and failed to keep a clean sheet against either Southampton or Ipswich Town.

Chelsea have been tentatively linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, although no deal is expected to take place this month. After Sanchez's latest error-strewn display, Maresca may be inclined to demand a new number one sooner rather than later.