Former Chelsea defender William Gallas has launched a scathing attack on the club’s decision-makers over the signing of Robert Sanchez, claiming the Spanish goalkeeper is “not at the level” required to play for the Blues.
Chelsea secured Sanchez from Brighton in the summer of 2023, paying £25 million and handing him a surprising seven-year contract. However, his performances have come under intense scrutiny this season, with the 26-year-old making more mistakes leading to goals than any other Premier League goalkeeper. Despite manager Enzo Maresca repeatedly defending his No. 1, Sanchez was finally dropped for Chelsea’s last game against West Ham, with Filip Jorgensen stepping in between the sticks.
Gallas, who made over 150 appearances for Chelsea, believes the blame should lie squarely at the feet of the club’s hierarchy rather than Sanchez himself.
“Goalkeeper errors, that is always a problem,” Gallas told Prime Casino. “Unfortunately for Robert Sanchez, he makes some big mistakes, and he makes them too often. It’s easy to blame the player, but I think Chelsea fans have to blame the sporting director. They have to blame the people who brought him in.”
The former French international didn’t hold back in his assessment, stating that Sanchez simply doesn’t meet the standards expected at a club of Chelsea’s stature.
“He doesn’t have the level to be the number one goalkeeper for Chelsea. When you play for a big club like this, you need to have that level. Sadly, he doesn’t have it.”
Gallas went further, questioning the club’s recruitment process and suggesting that those responsible for evaluating goalkeepers failed in their duty.
“The people who do that job, who bring players in, they have to know. Normally it’s not just the sporting director, but I’m sure they have one person who is in charge of the goalkeeper and gives his approval. That person made a mistake when they signed Sanchez.”
Sanchez’s inconsistent form has added to Chelsea’s broader struggles this season, as the club continues to grapple with issues both on and off the pitch. With Filip Jorgensen now getting his chance, all eyes will be on whether the Blues will stick with the young goalkeeper or look to the transfer market once again to solve their goalkeeping woes.
For now, Gallas’s comments will add to the growing pressure on the Chelsea board to justify their big-money investments and long-term contracts that, so far, have failed to deliver on the pitch.