KEEPER Robert Sanchez believes Sunday’s thrilling 4-4 draw with treble winners Manchester City demonstrates Chelsea are good enough to challenge once again with the very best.
The Blues equalised in the 95th minute through Cole Palmer’s penalty to earn a deserved share of the spoils, the third time they had equalised in a memorable encounter.
They were even going in search of a winner to match their 1986 5-4 Full Members Cup Wembley win over the same opponents, a time when it is fair to say trophies and success were in slightly less supply for both clubs!
In fact, Mauricio Pochettino was so irate at referee Anthony Taylor’s decision to blow the full-time whistle that the Chelsea boss immediately went to remonstrate with the official on the pitch.
The Argentine publicly apologised afterwards for losing his rag, but keeper Sanchez feels it just shows how determined the manager and everyone at the Bridge is determined to regain Chelsea’s place among the Premier League’s elite.
“That’s what we are trying to build – we want to get back to the top,” the Spanish stopper said.
“He (Poch) had that adrenaline. That’s what we are here for, it’s football.
“We went toe-to-toe with City. We know how good we are on counter attacks as well.
“We played quick and fast and got four goals out of it.
“That’s the message – that we can compete with anyone.
“We are coming out of a tough run and I’ve been saying it in every interview – we need time.
“It’s a young new team and we don’t know each other.
“We need time to know each other, build relationships and know our strengths from different players. That’s what we are doing.
“You can see on the pitch we are improving with every game more and more, connecting on the pitch and feeling good now.
“This can only go higher.”
Failing to win a trophy and only placing 12th last year means Pochettino’s first season in SW6 doesn’t involve midweek meetings with continental rivals.
Missing out on European action has become a rarity for Chelsea over the past two decades and Sanchez is determined that will quickly be put right.
He said: “We hope to get in Europe or the Champions League again.
“It is a big ask but we’ve got spirit, confidence, belief and quality enough to get there.
“The fans can see it. It is what we talk about in the dressing room – that we are building that confidence and with that comes spirit as well.
“We are just fighting and feel we can win any game.”
