January 2017. Brighton’s B team are at Coventry in the Checkatrade Trophy. Two thousand supporters are in the stands at the Ricoh Arena. In goal for the visitors is a 19-year-old Robert Sanchez, and in defence is Liam Rosenior, 32.
It wasn’t the most memorable match of Rosenior’s career, in truth. He was replaced at half-time by a future England international called Ben White, then 19, while Brighton were trailing 1-0. They ended up losing 3-0 to the competition’s eventual winners.
But it is a nice story in a way for, as fate had it, Sanchez would go on to leave Brighton for Chelsea for £25million and come to call Rosenior his ‘gaffer’ nine years later.
So, they go way back, and when Daily Mail Sport jogged Rosenior’s memory of that match on Friday afternoon, the Blues boss discussed how their history goes beyond a beating in Coventry. He also coached Sanchez while with the Seagulls.
‘I trained with Rob, and I coached Rob with Brighton’s Under 23s,’ Rosenior said. ‘At that point, we knew what his potential was. I said to him when I came in, ‘I’m so proud of you.’ To be at this club, to see how his career has progressed.
‘He’s got two children. I saw Rob when he was 17 years old, when he was a kid talking about passing his driving test. I’ve got a great connection with him. The scary thing with Rob is I know how much he can improve as well and he’s already playing at a really high level.’
Liam Rosenior encountered Robert Sanchez at Brighton and Coventry before managing him
Rosenior also coached Sanchez for around a year after retiring time with the Seagulls in 2018
That includes having Sanchez train with Chelsea’s main group now. Gone are the days when goalkeepers would purely work separately to the outfield players, in one corner of the training pitch at Cobham with their own designated coach.
Rosenior considers it crucial because the 28-year-old Spaniard is central to how Chelsea build from the back. ‘It’s my belief to get them involved because it’s an important part, for me, of the game,’ Rosenior added when we asked him.
Sanchez had his critics last season when Opta’s statistics said no goalkeeper made more mistakes leading to both goals and shots. Conventional wisdom suggested Chelsea should have been targeting someone new, but they resisted listening to the thousands advising them on social media.
This season, not a single goal conceded in the Premier League has been attributed to a Sanchez blunder. Save for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg versus Arsenal – when he flapped at two balls into the box – a sense of security has accompanied his presence in goal.
Chelsea have high confidence in Sanchez, though do have a decision to make on their goalkeeper set-up this summer. Mike Penders is on a season-long loan at Chelsea’s sister side Strasbourg, where he played a key role under Rosenior before his switch from one BlueCo club to the other.
The view from sources inside Chelsea is that Penders’ potential is ‘absolutely elite’. He is 20 years old, 6ft 7in, excellent with his left foot, and was signed from Genk – the same Belgian club from whom Chelsea bought Thibaut Courtois.
Penders appeared 25 times for Genk in 2024-25, and it is hoped he will finish 2025-26 with 40 starts for Strasbourg at least, fitness permitting.
Courtois, who was also 6ft 7in and a left footer, spent three seasons on loan with Atletico Madrid after Chelsea signed him from Genk in 2011.
Sanchez has responded to criticism of his game and has been crucial for Chelsea this season
Mike Penders – on loan at Chelsea’s sister side Strasbourg – is being touted as ‘absolutely elite’
Rosenior and the club’s recruiters will evaluate closer to this summer whether Penders is experienced enough to come in or if another loan is required. Daily Mail Sport has been told Penders was a big reason why the club never committed to signing a new goalkeeper, such as AC Milan’s Mike Maignan.
Sanchez’s back-up, Filip Jorgensen, has a minor injury which will see him miss this Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace. Scans on what was believed to be an abdominal issue were positive, however. He may be available again in time for Napoli in the Champions League this Wednesday.
In the meantime, Rosenior will focus on trying to get the best out of Sanchez. He is up there with the best shot-stoppers in the Premier League, but it is his passing ability which has been scrutinised, with it no secret that Chelsea favour playing from the back.
‘You always play to a player’s strengths, whether it’s the goalkeeper or your No 9,’ Rosenior summed up. ‘You want them to be comfortable. Rob has already shown me fantastic things.
‘His distribution against Brentford was outstanding – a couple of long passes to Pedro Neto which we nearly scored from. You always want to improve every player. That’s sometimes not even speaking about weaknesses – it can be making their strengths even better.’
