‘Best player in the world’ already knows Chelsea’s Maresca replacement

Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos has spoken about his summer return to Stamford Bridge and his admiration for Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior.

The Brazilian has been a revelation for BlueCo club Strasbourg since rejoining the Ligue 1 side on loan last summer. Santos, who has yet to make his competitive debut for Chelsea, has established himself as one of the best midfielders in France and was recently hailed as ‘the best player in the world’ by teammate Diego Moreira.

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Originally a defensive midfielder, the 20-year-old has been given more freedom by coach Rosenior and he is handsomely repaying the faith put in him. With nine goals and six assists across all competitions, Santos is one of Ligue 1’s most productive midfielders.

Strasbourg currently sit seventh in the table, so the unpopular marriage of convenience with Chelsea and BlueCo is beginning to bear fruit. Rosenior has been a key reason behind the club’s surge up the standings.

Rosenior built a promising reputation during stints with Derby and Hull, and many felt his sacking by the latter to be very harsh. Strasbourg have benefitted from this decision and he will certainly be in the frame for the Chelsea job should the Blues feel compelled to pull the trigger on Enzo Maresca.

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Santos on Chelsea and Rosenior

“He’s a great coach,” Santos told L’Equipe of Rosenior. “I love working with him. All the players are excited by his commitment, his vision. Plus, the style he wants is perfect for me. He wants possession, to multiply passes to bother opponents, and he wants to win, that’s the most important thing.

“He asks me to do everything: defend, win the ball back, and pass it as cleanly as possible. But he also gives me the freedom to be myself, to shoot from distance, to enter the box. I feel useful.”

As for Santos himself, the player has again reiterated that his future has yet to be decided. It is expected that he will return to Chelsea this summer and be integrated into the first team, but he recently cast doubt on this.

“Nothing is set in stone,” Santos has now added. “It’s the Chelsea management, with Strasbourg and my agents, that will decide what we will do. For now, I’m focused on the extremely important match against Olympique Lyonnais. We want to finish the season well. After that, we’ll see.

“Where I am, my main objective will be to play as many matches as possible to compete for a place at the 2026 World Cup. I was disappointed not to be called up [for Brazil], but I am not far off; I’m in the pre-list.”