This week saw Liam Rosenior sacked as Chelsea manager after just 104 days in charge.
A 3-0 defeat away to Brighton — Chelsea's fifth in a row — saw the 41-year-old relieved of his duties.
Calum McFarlane will take charge until the end of the season with the club working to appoint Rosenior's permanent successor before the start of next season.
And while most players, including Enzo Fernandez, who has appeared Real Madrid-bound, will benefit from Rosenior's sudden departure, for another player in particular, the former Strasbourg manager's exit could have saved his Stamford Bridge career.
Liam Rosenior's sacking could save Robert Sanchez's Chelsea career
Robert Sanchez has endured a tough couple of years in West London, not helped by the Blues' faltering back line, which has seen the side slip to seventh in the table.
The Spainard join from Brighton in 2023 and was expected to establish himself as one of the country's best goalkeepers. That hasn't quite happened yet, though.
The 28-year-old has frequently come under fire, and with Chelsea conceding far too many goals from close range this season, appears short of confidence.
Although Sanchez's future has been uncertain for some time, recent reports suggested Rosenior was preparing to give Mike Penders — currently on loan at Strasbourg — the number one jersey next season.
However, now with Rosenior out of the picture, Sanchez has been handed an unlikely lifeline, albeit with time against him, because there's no doubting Penders has shown massive potential during his loan spell in Ligue 1.
Mike Penders unlikely to be loaned out again next season
Set to return to Chelsea in the summer, Penders, who has put in some solid performances in France's top-flight, is unlikely to be sent back out on loan.
Instead, the 20-year-old, who signed from Genk two years ago, will compete to become the Blues' first choice shot-stopper. His emergence in the first team could see current back-up keeper Filip Jorgensen moved on.
During his loan at Strasbourg, Penders has kept 12 clean sheets, including two in the UEFA Conference League, in 45 appearances in all competitions.
His form has seen him remain a regular for Belgium's under-21's but there is hopes he could one day become the heir to Thibaut Courtois' throne.
The young Belgian has six years left on his contract, and, should he remain with his parent club this summer, will be expecting to make his debut sooner rather than later.
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