• Robert Sánchez’s Form:
  • Sánchez made another costly error against Wolves, gifting the opposition an equaliser before Chelsea recovered to win 3-1.
  • Maresca insists Sánchez remains Chelsea’s No.1 this season but has not committed to him retaining the position in future campaigns.
  • The coach acknowledges Sánchez’s need to improve handling criticism and managing pressure during games.
• Maresca’s Defence of Sánchez:
  • He compared Sánchez’s mistakes to errors made by other players, arguing that taking risks is part of playing at a high level.
  • Maresca stated: “If you don’t risk and if you don’t play, then you don’t make mistakes. For me, there’s nothing strange about Robert’s mistakes. It’s part of our job.”
• Cole Palmer’s Leadership:
  • Returning to face his former club, Manchester City, Palmer was praised for stepping up as a leader on the pitch.
  • Maresca highlighted Palmer’s willingness to take responsibility during difficult moments, comparing him to key players at other top clubs.
• City’s Perspective on Palmer:
  • While City may feel Palmer’s loss in the short term, Maresca downplayed the notion of long-term regret given City’s recent dominance.

Chelsea face Manchester City on Saturday at 5:30 PM GMT, live on Sky Sports, with much riding on Sánchez’s ability to regain form and Palmer’s continued emergence as a key player.