According to GOAL on Sunday, August 9, 2026, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez believes the club have a genuine opportunity to compete for the Premier League title during the 2026/27 season.

The Spanish shot-stopper feels Chelsea could turn the absence of European football into an advantage, allowing the team to concentrate entirely on domestic competition. After finishing 10th in the Premier League last season, the Blues failed to secure a place in European competitions.

Sanchez believes that missing out on continental football could actually benefit Chelsea by giving the players more time to recover between matches, prepare properly during training and maintain their fitness throughout the campaign.

He expressed optimism that having fewer fixtures would allow the squad to focus fully on league football and potentially achieve significant results during the season.

Chelsea are also beginning a new era under Xabi Alonso, who officially took charge as head coach on July 1. Without the demands of European matches, Alonso will have more opportunities to work closely with his players, develop his tactical system and prepare the squad during the week without the additional burden of midweek travel and fixtures.

The situation has drawn comparisons with Chelsea’s 2016/17 campaign under Antonio Conte. The club had also finished 10th in the previous Premier League season and entered Conte’s first full campaign without European football.

That season ultimately produced a remarkable turnaround. Conte guided Chelsea to the Premier League title, with the team recording a 13-match winning run and finishing the campaign with 93 points.

Sanchez will now hope Chelsea can repeat a similar transformation under Alonso. After a disappointing previous campaign, the goalkeeper believes the combination of a fresh managerial approach, a focused schedule and a motivated squad could help the Blues mount a serious challenge for the Premier League crown.