Maresca drops Sanchez, names Chelsea’s new no.1

Enzo Maresca confirmed on Thursday that Filip Jorgensen has officially taken over as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper, replacing Robert Sanchez as the club looks to regain momentum in the Premier League.

Spain international Sanchez, 27, has endured a difficult season, with multiple errors proving costly, including a key mistake in last month’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City.

Jorgensen, a 22-year-old Denmark Under-21 international, was handed the starting role in Chelsea’s 2-1 league victory over West Ham earlier this month. However, Sanchez returned for last week’s FA Cup loss to Brighton.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Brighton on Friday, Maresca confirmed Jorgensen is now his preferred option between the posts.

“My idea was to give Robert some time to recover mentally and physically,” Maresca explained. “But the plan is not to change goalkeepers game by game. Right now, Filip is our first-choice keeper.”

Chelsea, who were just two points behind league leaders Liverpool in mid-December, have seen their form decline in recent weeks. However, Maresca remains optimistic, believing his fourth-placed side is making strong progress toward securing Champions League football in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

“I don’t think what we have done can be cancelled or can be no good, because what we have done is there,” he said.

“Unfortunately we are out of both domestic cups but our journey in the Premier League has been fantastic until today, in the Conference (League) has been fantastic until today and we’re going to try to finish in the best way we can.”

He added: “I said already many times, don’t forget that in the last two years, Chelsea has never been top four and this year we spent almost our (whole) season in the top four.

“This shows you and everyone that we are in the right direction. Now we’re going to try our best to finish and to bring this club where this club belongs to be, in the Champions League.”