Now into his third season at Stamford Bridge, Sanchez has firmly established himself as Chelsea's first-choice goalkeeper. He has started each of our 13 Premier League matches this term and has kept a clean sheet in two of his four Champions League outings.

Big saves have been made along the way, including against Arsenal, where he denied Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino with fine reflex stops. Yet it was the Spaniard's work with his feet that particularly impressed Maresca.

The Chelsea head coach has consistently emphasised the importance of his goalkeeper in building attacks, be that through baiting teams to press high and passing through the lines or arrowing the ball into the feet or path of attacking players.

Sanchez's full range of passing was showcased against Arsenal and Maresca believes the 28-year-old has improved this aspect of his game over the season and a half they have worked together.

Speaking ahead of our trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United, the Blues boss said: ‘Robert, in terms of making saves, he has always been good since I joined the club. He has struggled a little bit in terms of build-up, but I have said since day one that our build-up depends a little on how the other teams press.

'Sometimes we will go long, sometimes we will go short. Robert’s game against Arsenal, I thought it was one of his best in build-up because we played some goal kicks short and arrived into their box, he played four or five balls between the lines – I remember one for Estevao and one for Malo (Gusto) – and sometimes we also needed to go long.

'Two games ago, away at Burnley, we also scored a goal that started from Robert [passing out from his penalty area], so he is improving and especially in our build-up.’