Maresca Reveals Why Rising Star Andrey Santos Saw Limited Action at Club World Cup

Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca has emphasized that midfielder Andrey Santos requires additional time to adapt to the club's playing philosophy after returning from his loan spell.

Santos had an outstanding period at Strasbourg, which secured him a place in Chelsea's Club World Cup roster. However, he has only received 22 minutes of playing time from the substitutes' bench this summer, leading to widespread rumors regarding his future prospects.

Despite having a contract that runs until 2030, several European clubs are reportedly monitoring Santos closely, though Chelsea remains unwilling to consider any transfer proposals.

Maresca finds himself under scrutiny regarding his utilization of the Brazilian midfielder, prompting the Chelsea manager to justify his decision to limit the player's appearances.

"Andrey is training with our squad and performing well in practice," Maresca explained. "He already worked with us during last summer's pre-season, so we have some familiarity with his abilities.

"His campaign was excellent, but adaptation requires patience. What matters most is his commitment in training. Regarding his role, I currently view Andrey as better suited to Enzo [Fernández]'s position rather than those of Moisés [Caicedo] or Roméo [Lavia].

"The rationale is that while we're participating in this current competition, we must also prepare for the upcoming season in the Premier League. In England's top flight, physical strength is essential because the league's intensity demands robust players. Currently, I see Andrey functioning more effectively as an offensive midfielder rather than in a defensive role."

Securing playing time ahead of Enzo Fernández presents a significant challenge for Santos, and Maresca took the opportunity to praise the Argentine star before their Club World Cup round of 16 encounter against Benfica on Saturday.

"I'm extremely satisfied with Enzo, particularly because he's genuinely a wonderful person - respectful and well-mannered," Maresca added. "Since joining us, he's demonstrated excellence in every area, both on and off the field.

"We've mentioned previously that players would initially face difficulties understanding our tactical approach this season. However, he's performing brilliantly, including his statistical contributions in goals and assists. This is exactly what we expect from our offensive players.

"I've repeatedly stated my preference for having multiple attacking players each scoring 10 to 12 goals rather than relying on a single striker with 40 goals. Enzo's impact this season has been exceptional, and I'm confident he'll be even more impressive next season."