Andrey Santos emerges as key Chelsea midfielder under Rosenior

Andrey Santos is emerging as a central figure in Chelsea’s evolving midfield structure, with the Brazilian poised to take on a more defined and influential role under Liam Rosenior after a prolonged period of uncertainty in his development.

At 21, Santos is still navigating the demands of English football, but Rosenior’s arrival at Stamford Bridge last month has proved a timely boost. The pair share a working relationship built during Santos’s successful loan spell at Strasbourg, and that familiarity is now translating into trust and tactical clarity at Chelsea.

The second half of the 2023–24 season and all of last year marked a turning point for Santos. Under Rosenior at Strasbourg, he became a cornerstone of the midfield, learning a system that demanded positional discipline, composure in possession and intelligence without the ball.

Rosenior’s move to Chelsea has allowed Santos to pick up where he left off. The Brazilian recently described the transition as straightforward, explaining that he understands the coach’s football and expectations. While nothing is truly simple at elite level, the confidence in his words reflects a player who knows exactly what is being asked of him.

That trust has already been reflected in selection. Santos has started five matches under Rosenior, including a demanding Champions League trip to Napoli and both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal.

Against Arsenal at the Emirates, Santos operated as the deepest midfielder in a 3-5-2 system that kept Chelsea competitive until the closing stages. The game was eventually decided by Kai Havertz’s late strike, but Santos’s influence was evident throughout a tense, tightly controlled contest.

By anchoring the midfield, Santos allowed Enzo Fernández to drift higher and Moisés Caicedo to press aggressively, safe in the knowledge that space behind them was protected. Chelsea may not have played expansive football, but the structure prevented Arsenal from dominating early and helped execute a disciplined game plan.

Statistically, the control was clear. Chelsea finished with more possession, a higher pass completion rate, and Santos himself completed 43 of 44 passes, often receiving the ball in high-risk areas close to his own defence without panic.

Earlier in the season, Santos was trialled further forward, a logical experiment given his goal return in Ligue 1. However, his most natural role has always been just ahead of the defence, particularly in high-level fixtures where decision-making under pressure is crucial.

Rosenior understands that Santos’ positional intelligence enables Caicedo to operate at his best. With Santos screening and recycling possession, Caicedo can focus on pressing and disrupting opponents higher up the pitch, while Fernández benefits from greater freedom in advanced zones.

Rosenior has previously highlighted this dynamic, pointing to Santos’s ability to adapt to unfamiliar shapes and stabilise those around him.

Santos’s trajectory makes the current moment even more significant. Between August 2023 and January 2024, a loan spell at Nottingham Forest stalled his progress, limiting him to just two appearances. Two years on, his situation has transformed.

Chelsea’s Carabao Cup run may be over, but the tactical groundwork being laid suggests Santos’s role is only set to grow. Having rediscovered confidence, clarity and trust under Rosenior, his importance within Chelsea’s midfield hierarchy is becoming increasingly clear.

Chelsea are expected to continue refining their midfield structure around Santos in upcoming league fixtures, with Rosenior likely to persist with shapes that maximise balance rather than risk. As the season progresses, Santos’s consistency at the base of midfield could prove vital in stabilising performances and supporting Chelsea’s broader tactical evolution.

Should Santos now be considered Chelsea’s long-term answer at the base of midfield, or does Rosenior still need additional options for bigger European nights?