Enzo Maresca must stop 'infuriating' habit and sign £25m star for Chelsea - opinion

Chelsea face Brighton in Premier League action this weekend in a return to Stamford Bridge for the first time since August. It will also mark the return of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

The Spaniard picked up a silly red card in the opening moments of the last league match against Manchester United. He served his suspension in the Carabao Cup clash against Lincoln City in midweek and is now eligible for selection again.

Sanchez is set to be ushered back into the starting XI to regain his position as number one. Maresca is ready to forgive his red card against Manchester United.

Enzo Maresca backs Robert Sanchez after red card

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he said: “I think Robert for a long time was very good with us. The last part of last season, the beginning of this season, he was fantastic. He made a mistake and recognised that. We are happy with Robert and happy with Filip, both of them. Not any problem with Robert.

“It can happen [the red card]. It's a quick decision. We conceded five goals because of Robert's mistakes last season but how many did we avoid because of Robert's saves?”

It’s becoming a somewhat infuriating habit of Maresca’s in forgiving his goalkeepers over and over again. Sanchez has a lot of quality but is regularly the subject of criticism for high profile mistakes.

If Chelsea want to be winning the Premier League, there cannot be space for those regular mistakes in between the sticks. A red card so early against the Red Devils left the visitors with a huge mountain to climb to get a result. In a title race, those are the points you look back on with regret.

While Maresca maintains confidence in Sanchez, it’s something he knows too. After that match, he said: “It's the best solution, because we are still 95 minutes to play, I think even Robert is aware of that, but also it's difficult because he has to take a decision in one second or two seconds, so it's difficult. But if you ask me, I prefer to be one goal down after three minutes than one player down after three minutes.”

Chelsea must swoop for Mike Maignan once again

It makes a January move for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan a no-brainer. Football Insider claimed last week that the Serie A giants could cash in on their £25 million valued star given his current contract expires next summer.

The 30-year-old has won the Ligue 1 and Serie A, as well as being named in the Team of the Tournament for Euro 2024. Maignan is a level above the options that Chelsea currently have and, given his contract situation, making a move to bring him to Stamford Bridge is obvious.

What’s more, the goalkeeper has been in superb form this season, with AC Milan conceding just two goals in the league. After another clean sheet against Girona in the Champions League, Italian outfit Tuttosport labelled him ‘Super Mike’ having made two very big saves in that match. Those are the types of headlines you want your goalkeeper to be making.

In other news, Chelsea confirm huge injury blow in boost for Brighton and Liverpool.