Liam Rosenior has described Andrey Santos as a “special” player ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League clash against PSG.
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The Blues travel to Paris on Wednesday for the first leg of their last 16 tie against the defending champions, in what is sure to be a huge occasion.
One player who is likely to play a key role is Santos, with the Brazilian knowing PSG well having played against them on a number of occasions during his time at Strasbourg.
Liam Rosenior praises Andrey Santos
Chelsea signed Santos from Brazilian side Vasco da Gama in January 2023 for a fee believed to be worth £13.5m, which now looks like a bargain,.
After a failed loan at Nottingham Forest, Santos spent 18 months at Strasbourg, and excelled under Rosenior last season as he scored ten goals in Ligue 1.
Santos wasn’t in favour under Enzo Maresca, but following the arrival of Rosenior he’s become a key player, and has formed a midfield pivot with Moises Caicedo.
Rosenior has made no secret he’s a huge fan of Santos, and both he and Owen Hargreaves waxed lyrical over the Brazilian on TNT Sports.
Hargreaves began by saying: “I love Andrey Santos.”
“I remember watching him for the first time, touched one ball and I thought, he’s a player. Such an underrated pass, that around the corner with his left,” he added.
Rosenior responded: “He’s crucial. He’s a special player.
“I worked with him at Strasbourg and after a week, he’s 21, but his football brain for his age is special, it’s elite.
“He’s going to have an incredible career.”
Romeo Lavia and Essugo back fit
Santos isn’t the only young midfielder on Chelsea’s books, with Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo also on the books at Stamford Bridge.
Lavia has been plagued with injury issues since arriving from Southampton in the summer of 2023, but he’s now back playing, with Chelsea set to be very careful in managing his minutes.
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Liam Delap with a Chelsea logo.
Levi Colwill in Chelsea training. (Photo by Chris Lee/Chelsea FC)
A generic view of Stamford Bridge.
Essugo made his debut at the Club World Cup, but injury prevented him from playing until last weekend’s win against Wrexham.
The Blues have a trio of very talented young midfielders as well as the more established Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, and it’ll be interesting to see how they all develop.
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