Xabi Alonso urged to sign 'incredible upgrade' on Chelsea flop

Xabi Alonso has seen enough and is axing Robert Sanchez after just one game at the helm (Credits: Shutterstock)

Xabi Alonso has been praised for taking the ruthless decision to axe Robert Sanchez and sanctioning the signing on an ‘incredible upgrade’.

The new Chelsea manager had previously declared himself happy with his new club’s goalkeeping options, despite Sanchez’s less than convincing track record and the inexperience of his understudy Mike Penders.

Sanchez’s two errors in Monday night’s win over Fulham prompted a dramatic shift in Alonso’s thinking, however, and the Blues moved swiftly to agree a cut-price £7.5million deal to recruit Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa.

The experienced Argentina international has shown signs of wear and tear over the last 18 months.

Indeed, statistics from last season would appear to suggest there is little to choose between Martinez and the man he is set to replace, but former Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop passionately argued against the numbers.

He told ESPNFC: ‘You need somebody with a presence and Emi Martinez without question has that. He’s very good with the ball at his feet and I think he ticks a lot of boxes for Chelsea.

‘Emi Martinez is an upgrade on Sanchez, those numbers cover up the cracks and the truth. Emi Martinez is a far better goalkeeper.

Emi Martinez made three errors leading to goals last season (Picture: ESPN FC)

‘You have Emi Martinez, even at this stage of his career, ten times out of ten over Sanchez. It’s not even a discussion.’

Ex-Chelsea defender Frank Lebouef, meanwhile, argued that Sanchez’s erratic style of goalkeeping has had a negative impact on the various defenders he has played behind over the last three years and that Martinez’s authoritative manor will be of huge benefit to the likes of Levi Colwill and Maxence Lacroix.

He said: ‘The numbers we saw they mean nothing. You have to put the percentage of trust defenders had last season in Martinez and the trust centre backs had in Sanchez. That I will give you a right number.

‘I’m pretty sure Aston Villa had 100% trust in Emi Martinez and I give you 10% confidence of any centre back that played for Chelsea.

Emiliano Martinez is set to join Chelsea from Aston Villa (Credits: AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Robert Sanchez has lost the trust of Xabi Alonso after just one game (Picture: Getty)

‘Those are the right numbers. You know it’s crucial that if you have a goalkeeper that you trust behind you, you can give 100%.