4 hours Ago By Alex Turk
Enzo Maresca has strongly refuted suggestions that Chelsea could recall Kepa Arrizabalaga from his loan spell at AFC Bournemouth before the January transfer deadline. However, the Blues boss warned Robert Sanchez that his mistakes couldn't continue, opening a potential window of opportunity for Filip Jorgensen. Maresca has repeatedly insisted that Sanchez is his first-choice goalkeeper despite a series of high-profile blunders by the Spaniard this season.
Supporters are growing increasingly disgruntled over the situation as cries for Jorgensen to receive a promotion from his role of cup keeper intensify. Maresca has issued a rallying cry for fans to get behind Sanchez but refused to rule out the possibility of dropping the 27-year-old in Monday's clash against West Ham United. "Not yet [to whether he has decided to drop Sanchez]," the Italian coach told reporters on Friday.
"We have two or three days. Any decision I make, I feel good because Filip has done well. Filip or Robert, we will see, but any decision will be okay.
" He added: "We need the fans. We need them; the players need them. I understand that sometimes they cannot be happy with the player or manager, but for sure, we need their support.
"They have to trust our direction. If I see something I don't like, I'm the first one to not accept that." Maresca insisted Jorgensen won't be growing frustrated at his lack of Premier League opportunities amidst the noise swirling around Sanchez's performances.
"I don't think so. The first time I spoke with Filip in July, I made it clear that the number one choice was Robert," Maresca continued. "We have two good goalkeepers, so we can make some different decisions.
It doesn't mean that Robert can make a mistake every game and stay in goal.' Kepa is enjoying a renaissance on loan at Bournemouth this season, helping Andoni Iraola's side challenge for European football. But Maresca responded "no, absolutely not" when questioned whether Chelsea were tempted to sanction the £72million star's return this month.
He does expect some movement - incomings and outings - before Monday's transfer deadline, though, amid strong links to Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho. Maresca stated: "You can expect players arriving and players leaving - it is like this at this moment. I don't know about the players leaving and arriving.
" Carney Chukwuemeka, Axel Disasi, Joao Felix and Cesare Casadei are among the players linked with a Stamford Bridge exit..
