Joe Cole claims 'assured' ex-Newcastle Utd man is the solution to Chelsea's problems - but I'm not so sure
Joe Cole has named his solution to Chelsea’s goalkeeper issue amid criticism of Robert Sanchez
Three-time Premier League winner and former England international Joe Cole believes Nottingham Forest shot-stopper Matz Sels is the perfect solution to Chelsea’s problems in the goalkeeping department and has urged the Stamford Bridge side to make a move for the Belgian in the summer.
Current goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has faced criticism for his errors and inconsistency throughout the season and has made the joint most errors leading to goals (5) of any player in the league alongside Ipswich Town’s Arijanet Muric.
He has managed just four clean sheets over the course of the season and has come under fire for his distribution, decision making and composure in possession. Sanchez has not started a first team game since his side’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City in the league last month and has been publicly by a number of pundits such as Jamie Carragher, who have deemed him ‘only good enough’ to play for a bottom half club.
“He has to manage that moment. He’s getting better, but he’s still far, far, far from where I want him to be,” Maresca told Mail Sport.
Maresca claimed Sanchez was far from the only player at fault for his side’s recent dip in form which was finally put to an end with a 4-0 victory over basement side Southampton. However, he did hint that he was considering alternatives for the season ahead when he said: “But then in the future, we don’t know. It is not only about Robert. It is even about me. I’m focused on this moment, this season. Robert is getting better, but he is still far from where I want him to be.”
Joe Cole backs Chelsea to sign Matz Sels
Robert Sanchez has recently been dropped from the Chelsea first team, but young goalkeeper Fillip Jorgensen has struggled to convince fans in his six league outings this season.
The 22-year-old was the subject of collective groans during the Southampton victory for a number of nervy moments where he played the ball out from the back and invited pressure instead of playing a pass further up the pitch.
‘My message to Filip was, 'If you play long balls, I will change you’, explained Maresca. "He was just doing what I said to him. It’s difficult for Filip, and it’s difficult for Robert too. All the keepers, they are just following the plan."
Cole, like many Blues fans, has been unhappy with Chelsea’s recruitment model, and feels a calm presence in goal needs to be a priority. When discussing the situation he said, via The Dressing Room podcast. “Do you know who I think is one of the best goalkeepers in the league at the moment? Sels from Forest,” Cole said on “Mate, I’m telling you. Watch him play. Assured, makes saves… I don’t know whether he’s having a golden period in his time but they are out there. You’ve just got to pick the right one.”
Should Chelsea make the move for Matz Sels?
Matz Sels, a once forgotten man at Newcastle United after a poor start in the Championship in 2016/17, has quite simply turned his career on its head - and is enjoying a stellar campaign in a Nottingham Forest shirt. The eight-time Belgium international has kept a league high 11 clean sheets, has made the third highest saves (85) and has been a key part of one of the best defences in the league that is by far and a way surpassing all expectations.
But he is not suited to Chelsea. For starters Selz plays in a team with the lowest average possession of any team in the league, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men go against the status quo of trying to pass the ball out from goal kicks and are instead focused on a more direct style of play which aims to hit teams quickly on the break with the pace of Anthony Elanga, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Morgan Gibbs-White while utilising the aerial qualities of Chris Wood, who come alive when the ball is in the penalty area.
This long-ball style of play (pardon the pun) suits Sels down to the ground as it allows him to focus on the strengths of his game which are his shot-stopping abilities, commanding his penalty area and moving quickly off the line to sweep up possession.
Similarly, Sels at 33 is approaching the twilight years of his career - and has never previously enjoyed a season of quite this level of quality. Sels is a strong goalkeeper and potentially a worthy contender to make the Team of the Season is Forest make the Champions League, but he is not the long term answer to Chelsea’s goalkeeping problem.