“You need to take this seriously if you want regular minutes. I won’t accept such behavior from any of you” – This is according to Enzo Maresca as he issues stern message to Andrey Santos following his Chelsea debut at the Club World Cup.

There was some concern ahead of Chelsea’s third group match at the Club World Cup when Andrey Santos once again found himself on the bench, despite multiple changes to the starting lineup.

Moises Caicedo was rested for the clash against ES Tunis, allowing Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia to start in midfield, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall playing out wide. While Chelsea had a slow start, they eventually secured a convincing 3-0 victory thanks to goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Liam Delap, and Tyrique George, earning them a spot in the Round of 16.

Santos made his first appearance in the second half, coming on in the 67th minute as Chelsea pushed for a third goal.

Andrey Santos vs ES Tunis (Stats)

• Minutes played: 22
• Assists: 1
• Chances created: 1
• Duels won: 2/4
• Completed passes: 16/17

Following the match, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca addressed Santos’ debut, issuing a note of caution despite his solid performance. The manager stressed that while Santos is working hard, he still needs time to adapt to Chelsea’s style of play—a necessary step for all recent arrivals from other clubs.

Speaking to journalist Ben Jacobs, Maresca explained:

“He’s working well, but he needs to understand how we play. It’s the same for all of the new ones. It’s important for them to continue in the way they are working to get opportunities.”

With Santos reportedly unwilling to settle for a backup role, Chelsea must carefully manage his development and playing time. European heavyweights like Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Barcelona are closely monitoring the midfielder’s situation, knowing he’s eager for consistent first-team football.

As competition intensifies in Chelsea’s midfield—with the likes of Caicedo, Fernandez, Lavia, and new signing Dario Essugo all vying for places—the club faces the challenge of ensuring Santos feels valued and gets chances to shine, or risk losing one of their most promising young talents.