Predictions
Robert Sánchez will take encouragement from his role in Chelsea’s goalless draw against Crystal Palace on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
The goalkeeper might have faced scrutiny after Eberechi Eze’s stunning free-kick flew past him in the first half, but the goal was disallowed after Marc Guehi was penalised for encroachment. That reprieve allowed Sánchez and Chelsea’s defence to secure a clean sheet against a dangerous Palace side, although head coach Enzo Maresca will be more concerned about his team’s lack of sharpness in attack.
Speaking after the final whistle, Sánchez praised his teammates’ efforts but admitted that fatigue is already an issue within the squad.
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Sánchez on Chelsea’s performance
“Obviously not the result we wanted, but I think the boys played well. We created chances, and at the end of the day, it’s football. We take the clean sheet and move on.
“We had two weeks of a quick pre-season and we got some injuries, but the boys showed up and we kept the clean sheet. It was hard to find Moisés [Caicedo] and Enzo [Fernández] with the ball because Crystal Palace were holding a lot in midfield and with the dry pitch as well.”
While those comments reflected the game itself, Sánchez went on to highlight a deeper concern.
Sánchez on fatigue
“It was easy to come back [to training], but we feel the fatigue. We didn’t have a long time to recover, but it is football. You just have to take care of your body and not do too much.”
Chelsea’s participation in the Club World Cup shortened their summer break, leaving Maresca’s squad with far less recovery time compared to rivals such as Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City. If players are already feeling the strain in August, it raises doubts about how the team will manage the intensity of a long season.
On Eze’s disallowed goal
The main talking point at Stamford Bridge was Eze’s free-kick, which appeared to give Palace the lead before being ruled out.
Sánchez initially believed the referee had spotted a foul on Caicedo.
“Moises gets pushed into the gap, and that’s why I couldn’t see at all, and the ball goes over my head. That’s why it has to be a foul, 100%,” he explained.
However, replays confirmed that the decision was due to Guehi’s encroachment, with the Palace defender stepping too close to Chelsea’s wall — a technical infringement that ultimately spared Sánchez’s blushes.
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