Enzo Maresca reacts to Chelsea flop’s latest woeful performance against Lincoln

Enzo Maresca has defended a Chelsea goalkeeper again after Filip Jorgensen put in a really poor performance in the Carabao Cup against Lincoln City.

The Blues came through the game at the LNER Stadium and are into the fourth round draw thanks to a 2-1 win, but it was not without a serious scare in Lincolnshire.

Rob Street gave the League One outfit a first half lead and the locals had a giant-killing on their minds as they enjoyed their refreshments at the interval.

However, the drama was quelled pretty quickly in the second half as Tyrique George and then Facundo Buonanotte scored to put Chelsea ahead by 50 minutes.

It was not comfortable, though, as the Premier League giants only won by the odd goal and their goalkeeper certainly did not have a relaxing evening.

Filip Jorgensen was between the sticks and had a torrid time with balls into the box, struggling to deal with coming off his line.

He even wiped out his own player at one stage, clattering Wesley Fofana and leaving the defender needing treatment for a facial injury.

Street’s goal was not down to the Dane, but it was hardly a display that inspired confidence in a position that has been a problem for Chelsea.

However, Maresca defended his man after the game, claiming that any goalkeeper would have struggled with facing Lincoln City.

Asked if he was alarmed by Jorgensen’s display, he said: ‘I don’t know how many balls they put inside the box tonight, you know, throw-ins, free-kick, cross, so I think it was not easy for any goalkeepers, to be honest.

‘And I think overall, you know, we conceded against Brentford in extra time from throw-ins, it’s not easy, it’s not easy because they bring so many players inside the box, they try to create chaos around the goalkeepers, so you cannot move, you cannot go out, you cannot catch the ball, it’s difficult.

‘And also, you know, for Filip, I think it was the first game of the season, so not easy, but at the end, again, we won the game, I was very worried about this game.’

It was Jorgensen’s second outing of the season as he came off the bench at Old Trafford on Saturday because Robert Sanchez had been shown a red card after just five minutes.

Both the first choice Spaniard and Jorgensen have come in for criticism during their time at Chelsea, although Maresca had praised the improvement of Sanchez in recent months.

Speaking before the Carabao Cup outing, Maresca said: ‘Rob for a long time has been very good. Unfortunately, he made a mistake the other day and he recognised it.

‘I know he made a post on Instagram in public, but he also did so after the game in the changing room. He recognised it was a mistake. He is an intelligent person, and he recognised that.

‘Filip is going to help us in the moments we need him.’

Jamie Carragher has claimed that Chelsea’s goalkeepers – and centre-backs – mean they are not Premier League title challengers.

‘You can’t turn up to Old Trafford with the goalkeeper and centre-backs that you’ve got, it can’t win you the league,’ the Liverpool legend said on Sky Sports.

Maresca brushed off the criticism, saying: ‘I think, as I’ve said many times, anyone can say what they decide to say. It’s not a problem.

‘I think we improved a lot last season. For instance, if you see the last three or four tables in the last three or four years, we closed the gap with the first one, two or three.

‘For me, this season, the main target is to continue to improve players, continue to improve the team and try to close that gap. This is, for me, the main focus for this season.’

Chelsea did try and sign a new goalkeeper over the summer but failed in their pursuit of AC Milan captain Mike Maignan.

Sanchez has now served the suspension he received for his Old Trafford red card so is available to face Brighton on Saturday.