Interviews

Points record is our next target, says Sanchez

Keeper praises Albion's defensive resilience after keeping tenth top-flight clean sheet.

By Bruce Talbot • 04 May 2021

By James Boardman
Robert Sanchez had a relatively quiet afternoon against Leeds United on Saturday.

Robert Sanchez has praised the players in front of him after celebrating another milestone in his Albion career.

The Spanish goalkeeper kept his tenth clean sheet in 23 Premier League appearances since breaking into the team last November in the 2-0 win over Leeds on Saturday.

And with four games to go – starting at Wolves on Sunday – he is determined to end the season strongly and help Albion to establish a new top-flight points record.

If one incident summed up Albion's assured defensive display against Leeds it came in the second half when skipper Lewis Dunk calmly chested a cross into Sanchez's hands in the middle of a congested six-yard box area.

He said, “I am really happy to now have ten clean sheets. Since I made my debut, my plan was to go game-by-game and do the best I could. But, to be honest, it has been even better than I expected and I am really happy about that. But now I need to keep going and playing well at this level.

10:21

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Extended PL Highlights: Albion 2 Leeds 0

“I think the [chest] pass with Dunky showed how well the defensive block works and communicates, whether that be Dunky, Adam Webster, Dan Burn, Ben White or Joel Veltman. They are always ready for every action and if someone is not there the other will fill in and try to help each other. But also we keep going mentally for 90 minutes which is helping us to keep these clean sheets.”

Saturday's win lifted Albion up to 14th onto 37 points and five more from their last four games would break last season’s Premier League record of 41.

“To do that would be unbelievable,” said Sanchez. “That has to be our aim now. We’re not going to relax because there are always targets to aim for. Wolves will be a really tough game but we are feeling positive and confident. We’re not able to relax yet, and we know as a squad we can always do more in each game and that is what drives us on.”

Sanchez was named in the Spain squad for the first time last month, and the official letter from the Spanish FA was framed and presented to him after the Leeds game. “It is a nice memory for me and a lovely gesture by the club,” he added.

By Paul Hazlewood
Robert Sanchez was called up to Spain's most recent senior squad.