Robert Sanchez suffered a violent head collision with Morgan Gibbs-White, and Chelsea will now run tests on him under concussion protocol. The goalkeeper hopes to be available for Saturday's match against Liverpool.
Robert Sanchez will have to undergo several medical tests in the coming days, as Chelsea must follow concussion protocols and is hopeful that he will be available for the weekend when they face Liverpool. This will possibly be the most important match of the season in terms of the Premier League, as they need to get points and move closer to sixth place.
The goalkeeper was substituted in the 66th minute of the 1-3 loss to Nottingham Forest after suffering a frightening head collision with player Morgan Gibbs-White, who suffered a deep cut on his forehead. Sanchez tried to stay in the match with a bandage, but ultimately had to be replaced by Filip Jorgensen.
The Premier League clarified that neither player was substituted due to concussion, but Sanchez will still have to undergo various reviews in the coming days. Chelsea is following the FA's "return to play guidelines" to the letter to obtain medical clearance for him before Saturday's match against Liverpool at Anfield.
According to The Standard, the club will wait at Cobham for the results before authorizing his return to the pitch. If he does not pass the initial tests, he will have to rest for at least 12 days. In short, any setback will keep him out of the match against Liverpool.
It is important to note that Forest player Gibbs-White suffered a deep wound requiring many stitches and will also have to undergo several tests to determine whether he will play in the match against Aston Villa, the second leg of the Europa League semifinals.
The possible absence of Sanchez would further complicate Chelsea's outlook and its aspirations to finish in the top five in the Premier League with only three matchdays left. After the match at Anfield, Chelsea must face Tottenham, which is in an intense fight to avoid relegation, and then Sunderland, which is hot on their heels to secure European spots.
The team's realistic aspiration must be to reach sixth place somehow and then wait for Aston Villa to be crowned Europa League champions and, in that way, qualify for the Champions League as the sixth-placed team in the Premier League.
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