Robert Sanchez has spoken out for the first time since he was sent off for a kamikaze challenge in Chelsea’s loss to Manchester United.
The Spaniard had played just five minutes at Old Trafford when referee Peter Bankes gave him his marching orders.
He left the official with little choice in truth after flying out of his goal and bringing down Bryan Mbuemo, who was bearing down on an open net.
The sending off led to a chaotic first-half, with Enzo Maresca making three early changes and the Blues ultimately finding themselves 2-0 down at the break despite Casemiro levelling the playing field.
Trevoh Chalobah gave his side a glimmer of hope in the closing exchanges with a headed goal, but it wasn’t enough as Ruben Amorim’s men held on for a much-needed 2-1 victory.
Sanchez has now taken blame for the defeat in a statement released on his Instagram Stories, reading: ‘On me today guys, big sorry for that, team put a massive effort on the second half but couldn’t get there.’
Robert Sanchez was dismissed just five minutes into Chelsea’s loss against Man United
He took blame for the loss with a post on Instagram afterwards. ‘On me today guys,’ the Spaniard wrote
The defeat at the hands of United is the latest in what has been a disappointing week for Enzo Maresca’s side after such a promising start to the season.
Chelsea were unbeaten heading into last weekend’s west London derby against Brentford, which they drew, before losing to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night.
Saturday evening’s performance at Old Trafford was the most concerning despite the red card. Even after Casemiro was dismissed, the Blues failed to ever really gain any control in the game against a struggling Red Devils side.
Speaking to Sky Sports post-match, Chalobah admitted ‘it wasn’t good enough from us as a club.’
‘The first 15 minutes was the worst we have played all season,’ the centre-half claimed, ‘we struggled in the first half.
‘Always difficult going down to 10 men. United were up for it and they put us under pressure. We have played in the Premier League long enough now so we just have to learn from this and move forward.
‘Whether it is 10 men each, it is always difficult from 2-0 down. We need to reflect over not starting well and we need to raise our standards as a collective.’
On the other hand, the win for United was a more than crucial one.
It was a bad day all-round for the travelling Blues, their worst of the season
For United on the other hand it was a crucial win, one which will ease the pressure on Ruben Amorim
The United boss praised his players while speaking to reporters post-match
Pressure had been well and truly building on Ruben Amorim in the wake of the Manchester derby loss, and his side delivered.
Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring for the Mancunians with a close-range tap in before Casemiro made it two with a header nodded in after a scramble in the box.
Despite a late resurgence from the visitors, the Red Devils held on to the win in the thrashing Manchester rain.
‘We started the game really well, really aggressive,’ Amorim said, ‘we were so aggressive in the second balls.
‘We had the sending off with Casemiro, we like to complicate our game always but it was a good day.
‘I felt the urgency, of course the sending off helped us. We had to be more clinical to finish the game off sooner.’
United travel to Brentford next weekend, while Chelsea face another trip north to face Lincoln City on Tuesday evening in the Carabao Cup.
