Following a disappointing 3-2 loss to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has come to the defense of his goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez. The Spain international was at fault for two of Arsenal's goals, but Rosenior insists that the blame lies with him, not his player. In his first home game as Blues boss, Rosenior is working on implementing a new tactical approach, and he believes that Sanchez will improve with time.
Rosenior's Support for Sanchez
Rosenior revealed that he had asked Sanchez to perform tasks that he had not done before, and that the goalkeeper's mistakes were a result of this new approach. "It's a team goal, it's not just on Rob [Sanchez]," he said. "I'm asking Rob to do things that he hasn't done before. I said to him before the game, and I made this really clear, when my players make mistakes, I'm accountable. That's on me." Rosenior also praised Sanchez's world-class save in the second half, which prevented Arsenal from taking a commanding lead.
Rosenior's comments suggest that he is willing to take the blame for his team's mistakes, and that he is committed to helping his players improve. This approach is likely to boost the confidence of his squad, particularly Sanchez, who has faced criticism for his recent performances.
Rosenior's Tactical Approach
Rosenior has only had two days to work with Sanchez, and he is keen to put his imprint on the team. However, he is aware that this process will take time, and that he needs to balance his desire to implement a new approach with the need to win games. "I don't want to do that to the detriment of the results, but I need to make sure we win now, but we keep improving for where we want to get to this season," he said. "It's a very fine margin."
Injury and Illness Hit Chelsea
Chelsea's defeat was made more challenging by the absence of several key players, including Cole Palmer, Reece James, and Malo Gusto, who all failed late fitness tests. Moises Caicedo was suspended, while Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens were ruled out due to illness. Rosenior revealed that Palmer had a minor strain in his thigh, and that he could not afford to risk losing him for an extended period. James had a "big knock on his hip," but Rosenior hopes that he will be back for Saturday's game.
Rosenior was proud of his team's bravery and performance, despite the defeat. He believes that Chelsea can still compete with Arsenal in the second leg, and that his team has the potential to win. "We're playing probably the best pressing team in Europe today, with their full-strength team, and we're missing a lot of players," he said. "I was proud of the bravery of the players to try to execute certain aspects of what I asked."
Looking Ahead
Rosenior is aware that he needs to balance his desire to implement a new approach with the need to win games. He believes that his team has the potential to improve, and that he can help them achieve their goals. "I need to put my stamp on the team as well - otherwise there's no point in me being here," he said. "So it's a fine balance, and hopefully the fans will see the progression in the team. But we need to win at the same time." With the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal scheduled for February 3, Rosenior will be looking to make adjustments and improvements to his team's performance.
Original: BBC Sport
Image: BBC Sport
Written by Npsports
