Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has taken full responsibility for the costly errors made by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez during the Blues’ dramatic 3-2 loss to Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge.
Despite staging a spirited late comeback, Chelsea now face an uphill task heading into the return leg. Sanchez endured a difficult night, appearing culpable for Arsenal’s first two goals.
Arsenal struck inside seven minutes when Sanchez misjudged Declan Rice’s corner, allowing Ben White to force the ball over the line.
The situation grew worse early in the second half as a low delivery from White slipped through Sanchez’s hands, gifting Viktor Gyokeres a tap-in. Martin Zubimendi later netted Arsenal’s third to strengthen their advantage.
However, Chelsea showed character. Substitute Alejandro Garnacho made an immediate impact, scoring a brace that pulled the Blues back into contention and injected belief into the home crowd.
After the match, Rosenior defended his goalkeeper, stressing that the responsibility ultimately rests with him as he continues to implement his style.
“It’s a team goal; it’s not just on Rob,” Rosenior said. “I’m asking him to do things he hasn’t been asked to do before. I told him before the game that if my players make mistakes, I am accountable. That’s on me.”
Rosenior highlighted Sanchez’s exceptional second-half save as a crucial moment that prevented the tie from slipping away entirely.
“That was Rob’s first game under me. I’ve had just two days of work with him. I need to leave my mark on the team — that’s why I’m here,” he added.
Rosenior acknowledged the need to balance long-term improvement with immediate results, admitting that the margins for success are slim.
“I don’t want progress to come at the cost of results, but we need to win now while still building toward our goals for the season. It’s a very fine margin,” he said.
He reiterated his responsibility for any mistakes that occur while players adapt to his instructions:
“I’ll always protect my players. If he makes an error while doing exactly what I ask, that’s on me. I’m confident we will grow stronger as the team absorbs the ideas and structure we’re implementing.”
Rosenior also revealed how severely Chelsea were depleted heading into the match, with several key players unavailable due to injuries and illness. Cole Palmer, Reece James, and Malo Gusto all missed out after late setbacks, while Moises Caicedo was suspended. Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens were ruled out after falling ill on matchday.
“The biggest issue for us was the number of injuries and illnesses we had while facing a top-quality side,” Rosenior said.
He explained that Palmer’s absence was a precaution:
“He had a minor thigh strain. If you rush him in early January, that can turn into six weeks out. I can’t afford to lose Cole Palmer for that long — he’s too important.”
Despite the defeat, Rosenior remains optimistic that Chelsea can overturn the first-leg result when they travel to the Emirates Stadium on 3 February.
“We played probably the best pressing side in Europe with their strongest lineup while missing several players,” he said. “I was proud of the bravery the team showed in trying to execute what I asked. The balance is delicate, but I hope fans can see the progression — and we must keep striving for wins.”
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