Gary Neville believes Robert Sanchez ‘undermines’ Chelsea and should be replaced by new Stamford Bridge boss Xabi Alonso.
Sanchez made yet another mistake in Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Fulham on Monday night.
The Blues looked in control after Joao Pedro broke the deadlock inside a minute at Craven Cottage, but Sanchez’s error gifted Fulham’s Josh King an equaliser.
Sanchez also received criticism for his part in Fulham’s second, scored by Gonzalo Garcia, but the Spaniard’s unconvincing performance did not ultimately cost Chelsea, who ran out 3-2 winners thanks to goals from £117m summer signing Morgan Rogers and the sensational Cole Palmer.
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Neville has high hopes for Chelsea this season, insisting they could emerge as Arsenal’s biggest rivals for the title, but believes it is imperative that Sanchez is replaced in goal.
‘For the first time in a while I really like the spine of Chelsea’s team,’ Neville said on Sky Sports before the game. ‘The goalkeeper could maybe be upgraded but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.’
Analysing Fulham’s equaliser at half-time, Neville added: ‘Chelsea were in a really good shape, showing respect to Fulham.
‘Xabi Alonso will be thinking, “how have we conceded from here?”. We’ve got to be careful about criticising goalkeepers and any players really.
‘But Robert Sanchez does undermine Chelsea’s position. He makes a lot of errors and it just can’t happen that, it can’t happen.
‘It will undermine everything Chelsea do. It’s a problem for Chelsea and I don’t think if Emi Martinez is available, but they need someone like that.’
Arsenal legend Alan Smith, meanwhile, suggested Alonso could put pressure on the Chelsea board to sign a new goalkeeper after Sanchez’s performance against Fulham.
Reacting to Fulham’s first goal, Smith said on Sky Sports: ‘Sanchez has got to stop it. You shouldn’t be scoring from there, he probably didn’t even expect to score from there.
‘He’s looked nervous from the off. Dear oh dear. It will be interesting to see if Chelsea make a move for a new goalkeeper, this might nudge them in that direction because it’s a shocker from Robert Sanchez.’
After Garcia scored Fulham’s second, Smith added: ‘It’s another blunder from the goalkeeper, he just knocks it back into the danger area.’
Discussing Chelsea’s aspirations for the new season before the Fulham game, Neville backed Alonso to guide the west Londoners to a second-place finish.
Chelsea finished just 10th in the Premier League last season but Neville believes a huge improvement is guaranteed following Alonso’s appointment and some shrewd business in the transfer window.
Asked whether Chelsea could rival title favourites Arsenal for the Premier League trophy, Neville added: ‘It’s a big ask.
‘With the quality Arsenal have, the strength they have, the confidence… it will be a big ask to challenge Arsenal.
‘But I think Chelsea, looking at the rest of [the contenders], and what Chelsea have done in this transfer window, I think they’re in a good place. They could push for second.’
Chelsea face League One side Luton Town in the EFL Cup on Thursday night before returning to Premier League action against Brighton on Sunday.
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