February 17th 2024.
Robert Sanchez, the goalkeeper for Chelsea, has been out of action for the past two months due to a knee injury. However, manager Mauricio Pochettino has finally shed some light on why the Spaniard was not included in the squad for their game against Manchester City on Saturday.
Despite being declared fit for the match, Sanchez was not named on the team sheet for the trip to the Etihad. This came as a surprise to many, as he had been sidelined since sustaining the injury during a 2-0 defeat against Everton in December. In his absence, Dorde Petrovic had been keeping goal for the team.
During his pre-match press conference on Friday, Pochettino confirmed that Sanchez had fully recovered from his injury and was in contention to play against City. However, he also mentioned that the goalkeeper would not be starting the game, as it was a crucial Premier League clash. So, it was unexpected when Sanchez's name was not even on the bench.
Pochettino has now explained that the 26-year-old was absent from the game due to personal reasons. He reassured that it was not a major issue, but it was important for Sanchez to be at home on that particular day. The manager also expressed his hope to have the goalkeeper back for their next fixture.
Meanwhile, Raheem Sterling, a former player of Manchester City, has been included in the starting lineup for Chelsea. Pochettino has made two changes to the team that won 3-1 against Crystal Palace, with Sterling and Levi Colwill coming in. This was necessary due to the absence of Noni Madueke and the injured Thiago Silva.
When asked about the changes, Pochettino explained that they were circumstantial, as certain players were unavailable due to injuries. He also expressed his confidence in the team he had chosen and their ability to perform well in the game. As the match began, all eyes were on Sterling and his former team, hoping for an exciting and competitive game.
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