Andrey Santos has returned to Chelsea after a productive season-long mortgage at Strasbourg, the place he made a notable impression in Ligue 1 with 10 objectives and 4 assists throughout 32 matches. As he re-integrates into the Chelsea squad, the membership’s teaching workers is evaluating the place he suits inside their evolving system.
Although the Brazilian featured solely briefly in Chelsea’s 3-0 Membership World Cup group stage win over Esperance Tunis, head coach Enzo Maresca has make clear the place he envisions Santos enjoying. The 20-year-old is at present considered as a possible future alternative or different to Enzo Fernandez, taking over a extra offensive midfield position.
Fernandez has had a stellar season with Chelsea, recording one aim and two assists on the Membership World Cup alone, and posting a complete of 9 objectives and 16 assists over 49 appearances this season. His rising affect within the workforce has made the quantity eight place very important to Maresca’s tactical setup.
Whereas Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo are seen extra as defensive-minded midfielders, Santos, in keeping with Maresca, brings a special profile. The Italian supervisor considers him higher suited to superior midfield obligations, aligning him extra carefully with Fernandez’s energetic and inventive position.
Santos continues to be adjusting to Maresca’s tactical strategy, and that studying curve is a key cause his minutes stay restricted through the Membership World Cup. Regardless of being anticipated to stay on the bench within the upcoming knockout conflict towards Benfica, Santos is clearly within the supervisor’s long-term plans.
Chelsea followers could not see a lot of him on the pitch simply but, however Maresca’s feedback counsel that Santos is considered as a growing asset—one who might quickly play a serious half within the workforce’s attacking transitions. His Ligue 1 success alerts readiness, and with time, he might change into an important cog in Chelsea’s midfield engine.
