Enzo Maresca has made his decision regarding Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper following Robert Sanchez’s recent high-profile errors.

Enzo Maresca has now officially announced his decision regarding Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper for the upcoming matches, putting an end to speculation surrounding the position.

For some time, it was believed that the Portuguese coach was still weighing his options due to a series of costly mistakes made by Robert Sanchez. These errors had led to uncertainty about who should be entrusted with the crucial role of guarding Chelsea’s goal.

During Chelsea’s matches in January, Sanchez, the Spanish shot-stopper, came under heavy scrutiny for his performances. His lack of confidence between the posts became a growing concern, particularly after he was directly responsible for Manchester City’s second goal in a 3-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium. This mistake, among others, led to frustration among fans, who began calling for a change in the goalkeeping lineup.

Despite the backlash from supporters demanding that Filip Jorgensen be given an opportunity, Maresca initially stood by Sanchez, publicly expressing his confidence in him. However, on Thursday, the Chelsea manager made a definitive decision—Jorgensen would now take over as the club’s primary goalkeeper, giving Sanchez a much-needed period to regain both his mental composure and physical sharpness.

Explaining his rationale, Maresca clarified: “I previously mentioned that giving Filip the start against West Ham was not just about tactical choices but also about allowing Robert time to recover mentally and physically. My intention is not to rotate goalkeepers from match to match. At this moment, Filip played in our most recent Premier League game against West Ham, which we won, while Robert was in goal for the FA Cup match. Right now, Filip is our first-choice goalkeeper.”

Chelsea currently holds fourth place in the Premier League standings with 43 points, trailing Nottingham Forest by four. The team had an impressive start to the season and, as recently as mid-December, was just two points behind league leaders Liverpool. However, their form took a significant downturn at the start of 2025, leading to a reassessment of the squad.

Sanchez, in particular, bore the brunt of fans’ criticism for his high-profile mistakes. One of the most notable incidents occurred during a match against Wolves when he misjudged a cross from a corner, leading to Matt Doherty scoring in the 45th minute at Stamford Bridge. Errors like this reinforced the growing calls for a change in goal.

Maresca also shed light on his private discussions with Sanchez regarding the situation. He explained: “I had a conversation with Robert a few days before the West Ham game when I made the decision to start Filip. Since then, I haven’t revisited the topic with either Robert or Filip. They both understand the situation, and we will assess things as the season progresses.”

Filip Jorgensen, a 22-year-old Danish goalkeeper, was signed by Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer of 2024 for a transfer fee of £20.7 million. He was brought in specifically because of his compatibility with Maresca’s tactical philosophy, particularly as Kepa Arrizabalaga was loaned out to Bournemouth for the season.

So far, Jorgensen has made three appearances in the Premier League, conceding four goals. Additionally, he has been a key player in Chelsea’s Conference League campaign, featuring in all eight group-stage matches and helping the team advance to the round of 16. Now, with his promotion to the starting role, he is set to feature once again when Chelsea faces Brighton at the American Express Stadium on Friday night.