Andrey Santos might not have stolen the headlines at Selhurst Park like Estevao Willian or Joao Pedro, but across Chelsea’s hard-earned victory, his influence in midfield was quietly decisive.
While the attackers brought the spark, Santos supplied the steel and structure, anchoring play and allowing the Blues to dictate the tempo in key moments of the contest.
After the final whistle, the 21-year-old reflected on the growing belief within the squad, crediting Liam Rosenior for instilling confidence and clarity in the way Chelsea approach games.
“He has given a big confidence boost, not only for me but for a lot of other players as well,” Santos said.
“I try to help my team-mates because I know the type of football he wants. It’s easy for me because I know him and I worked with him.”
Sitting deep in midfield, Santos completed 52 of his 58 passes, recorded an accuracy close to 90%, won seven duels, made three tackles and added two interceptions.
“He wants every player to work hard, to fight, and we have to give him some time to win games and to win trophies as well.
“But the goal this season is to win every trophy that’s possible. When you talk about Chelsea, you have to win trophies.”
As the season gathers momentum, Santos also pointed to the strong chemistry developing among Chelsea’s Brazilian players, a bond that continues to translate into confident performances on the pitch.
“I told Estevao he is a superstar! It’s not easy when you come from another country, another language, it’s hard but he is doing very well. I am so happy to play with him here and in the national team.
“And Joao is my brother. He is a top player and a top guy as well. I’m so happy for Joao Pedro, he’s so important and hopefully he can keep getting confidence from the goals he is scoring.”
In the bigger picture, Santos’ words and actions underline a player fully aligned with Chelsea’s winning culture, quietly driving standards as the Blues chase silverware on multiple fronts.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
