Mauricio Pochettino confirmed he’s chosen the starting goalkeeper for Chelsea in tomorrow’s Premier League match against Brentford.
Robert Sanchez returned from injury in Wednesday night’s 3-2 FA Cup fifth-round victory against Leeds United.
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The summer recruit from Brighton began the season as the team’s new top goalkeeper after Kepa Arrizabalaga left.
However, Sanchez couldn’t prove himself, and his injury during a loss at Everton in December allowed Petrovic to step up.
Petrovic, the Serbian international, seized his chance and has been among the team’s standout performers during a challenging time for Pochettino.
When asked who would start against the Bees on Saturday, Pochettino said: ‘I don’t know if to tell or not to tell [you]. They know already. Always is tough when you only need to pick 11.’
The victory against Leeds midweek provided a welcome diversion for the struggling west London club, which has been soul-searching since last Sunday’s Carabao Cup final loss to a weakened Liverpool team.
‘Maybe yes, because we feel disappointed and we have faith in our ability to win,’ said Pochettino when asked if the last week had represented the toughest period since he took over in the summer.
‘We were so close and after 90 minutes I think we were the best side. But we didn’t keep the energy after 90 minutes and I think this is why we lost the game.
‘We met after the game in a different place than Wembley and the players started to feel. In some points they were disappointed and it was painful but by Tuesday and Wednesday they were ready and wanted to play. That speaks very highly about our squad and our players.
‘What we’ve learned from them is that they are learning. They are learning to compete all together, see other, feel each other and know how they behave in these moments.
‘After seven or eight months we already know the profile of the players but it’s important for them to know each other, especially in these high pressure moments.’
