Former Chelsea star Joe Cole has issued a stark warning to his old club, suggesting they face a battle to keep hold of 'absolutely outstanding' midfielder Andrey Santos following his impressive performance against Burnley.
Midfield Masterclass at Turf Moor
Chelsea secured a crucial 2-0 victory away at Burnley on Saturday, with goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez propelling the Blues up to second place in the Premier League table. The match, played at Turf Moor, saw manager Enzo Maresca make a significant tactical decision.
With Moises Caicedo returning late from international duty with Ecuador, Maresca opted to rest the in-form defensive midfielder, handing a start to 21-year-old Brazilian Andrey Santos. Despite the challenging circumstances, Santos rose to the occasion spectacularly, delivering an industrious performance that earned him the player of the match award and ensured Caicedo's absence wasn't felt.
Cole's Glowing Praise
Speaking to TNT Sports, Cole was effusive in his praise for the young Brazilian. 'He was outstanding,' Cole declared. 'It wasn't much on the ball, he was very tidy, very efficient. But off the ball... We questioned it, how would Chelsea react without Caicedo today because of the things that he can do, blocking runs and breaking down play.'
Cole emphasised Santos's natural defensive instincts, stating: 'But he was absolutely outstanding. Every time there was a bit of danger he sniffed it out. Sometimes players have a natural ability with this and he seems to be one of them players.'
The pundit went on to highlight the remarkable depth in Chelsea's midfield, questioning: 'Now Chelsea have got Enzo, [Romeo] Lavia, Caicedo and Santos. Is there a collection of four central midfielders better in the Premier League? I don't think there is.'
A Potential Selection Headache
While acknowledging the strength of Chelsea's squad, Cole pointed to a potential long-term 'problem' for the club. He noted that Santos is unlikely to start many games when Caicedo is available, which could eventually prompt the talented youngster to seek opportunities elsewhere.
'We've seen players who've come in and some have bided their time and got into the team,' Cole explained. 'There's some, most famously [Kevin] De Bruyne and [Mohammed] Salah, who have said no, I need to start my career elsewhere because Chelsea have traditionally stockpiled players over the years and it is a big squad.'
Cole questioned how many games Santos would realistically play, adding: 'What's his minutes? Chelsea have got designs of going deep into all competitions. I think he'll play enough to satisfy him for now. But for me, he looks like a starter and there's a lot of players at Chelsea all of a sudden [who could be starting].'
The situation is further complicated by the imminent return of Cole Palmer, creating what Cole describes as another 'problem' for team selection.
Maresca's Reaction
This match marked the first time Maresca has not started Caicedo in a Premier League game this season. In his post-match press conference, the head coach jokingly remarked: 'I won't do it anymore, it's the last time!' before offering genuine praise for his stand-in midfielder.
'He was very good,' Maresca said of Santos. 'Andrey's position is the position that he played today. With us, most of the time he plays a little bit higher, a little bit in the pocket, but it's because in that position we have Moises, so we try to find solutions, space for Andrey, but we are aware and we know that Andrey's position is the position that he played today.'
The victory leaves Chelsea just three points behind leaders Arsenal heading into next week's fixtures, with Cole suggesting the Blues could be 'sneaking back into the title contention'. However, managing the expectations and game time of emerging talents like Santos may prove crucial to their sustained challenge.
