“I’m feeling at my best, better than ever” - Chelsea star reflects on early struggles at Stamford Bridge and new-found form under Enzo Maresca
Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has admitted to finally getting settled at the club, over a year after joining them. Sanchez credited manager Enzo Maresca for getting his ideas across quickly and added that the pre-season also helped him settle down.
Speaking to the club's official website, Sanchez talked about how he felt about the season's start and if the team was gelling well. The Spaniard also opened up about a tough start to life at Stamford Bridge last summer. He said (via Tribal Football):
"I’m feeling pretty good. On the team, I think we’re playing the way we want to play. Maresca is passing the message to us quite quickly and I think it’s showing on the pitch, how good we are playing and improving defensively and attacking. On myself, I’m feeling the best that I’ve ever felt and after two clean sheets we just need to keep this going. It feels amazing because it’s the fittest I’ve felt in the last two years. Two years ago I didn’t have a pre-season, and last year I didn’t have a pre-season."
"I signed for Chelsea, trained for three days and then played against Liverpool. I wasn’t at my best and played week in, week out, feeling I was at 60 per cent or 70 per cent of what I know I’m capable of. Then the injury happened. But this pre-season I came back two or three weeks before everybody else just to get my knee strong. Now the knee feels like I’ve never had an injury there and I’m just focused on training because I want to give my best. I know what I’m capable of, I know how much better I can get, especially with this team and these players, this coach with the way he supports me on the pitch. We can win things and I want to win things with this club. I’m feeling at my best, better than ever," he added.
Chelsea signed Robert Sanchez from Brighton & Hove Albion last season. He fell down the pecking order, with Djorde Petrovic taking his place, following an injury but has now regained the #1 spot with the Serbian loaned out to sister club Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
Robert Sanchez settling in at Chelsea after tough start
Robert Sanchez has kept two clean sheets in his first five Premier League matches this season. He has conceded just five goals and made an important penalty save in the 1-0 win over AFC Bournemouth earlier this month.
The goalkeeper has been reinstated as the #1 at the club this season by new manager Enzo Maresca.
Sanchez played 16 matches in the league last term but managed to keep just three clean sheets. He conceded 25 times in the league, with another four goals in two FA Cup matches.