"I'm Still Not Convinced" – John Obi Mikel Urges Chelsea to Sign New Goalkeeper Despite Sanchez’s Club World Cup Brilliance
Ex-Chelsea star John Obi Mikel admits Robert Sanchez impressed in Club World Cup final but insists the Blues must still find a more reliable No.1
Chelsea fans had every reason to celebrate after a stunning 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final, with Robert Sanchez playing a major role in securing the title. The Spanish goalkeeper was in top form in New York on Sunday night, pulling off several key saves and even taking home the Golden Glove award for his performance.
But not everyone is completely convinced.
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, who has never been shy about sharing his opinion, insists that the Blues still need to find a replacement for Sanchez—even after his man-of-the-match display.
Speaking on DAZN after the final, Mikel made his position crystal clear when Gareth Bale suggested that Chelsea didn’t need a new keeper anymore.
“No, no, no, we are still buying a goalkeeper,” Mikel responded firmly.
“I’m still not convinced with Sanchez at all, but let’s give him credit, he had a great game today, I’ll give him that.”
🗣 John Obi Mikel at full time:
"I still believe we do need a top, top goalkeeper. Robert Sanchez had a brilliant game today but going into the new season with the Champions League and the Premier League I think you still need another top goalkeeper that is going to come in and… pic.twitter.com/BKEyttTNB5
— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) July 13, 2025
Sanchez certainly silenced some of his critics with his commanding presence between the sticks against PSG. The 26-year-old made a string of vital saves that kept Chelsea in control of the match and earned him praise from both fans and pundits—something that’s been rare since his arrival from Brighton.
Despite the silverware and personal award, doubts remain about his consistency. Last season, no goalkeeper in the Premier League made more mistakes leading to goals than Sanchez. That worrying stat has stuck with many fans and seems to be the key reason why Mikel and others still believe Chelsea should invest in a new number one.
Earlier this summer, Chelsea had the opportunity to sign AC Milan’s highly-rated Mike Maignan, but they reportedly backed off due to the Serie A club’s steep asking price. Now, as things stand, Sanchez is expected to begin the new season as Mauricio Pochettino’s first-choice goalkeeper.
However, Mikel’s comments reflect a view shared by many within the fanbase: one great performance in a final doesn’t erase an entire season’s worth of shaky moments.
Chelsea’s recent success on the global stage has added to the club’s momentum, but with the Premier League season around the corner, questions about Sanchez’s reliability in goal remain unanswered.
