Andrey Santos’ comments about his preferred position and playing style reflect his confidence and understanding of his role on the field. His desire to play as a defensive midfielder, specifically in a setup like the 3-2-5 formation that Maresca uses, shows his comfort in controlling the tempo of a match from deeper positions.
This aligns with his development at both club and international levels, where he has gained experience playing in similar systems.
Given his strong performances on loan at Strasbourg, where he has contributed significantly with goals and assists, Chelsea’s decision to keep him with the club next season makes sense. Maresca could see Santos as a crucial part of his midfield, helping to dictate the play while also providing stability defensively.
It will be interesting to see if Santos can make the leap to Chelsea’s first team next season, potentially offering an option to strengthen their midfield and give them more depth in the defensive midfield position.
