Enzo Maresca played it very safe with his squad selection for Chelsea’s opening Club World Cup fixture against LAFC.
A lot of the players who started the Conference League final less than a month ago for the Blues began the first group stage game in the United States, meaning supporters were being forced to wait to see some of their new stars in action.
Liam Delap was certainly worth the wait as far as Blues fans were concerned, making a real impact in his second-half cameo on debut.
Delap said his assist was just the start of what Chelsea fans can expect to see, with them also getting a first look at fellow new signing Dario Essugo.
Enzo Maresca makes mistake not playing Andrey Santos in Chelsea’s Club World Cup win
One player many will have been excited to see who didn’t get onto the pitch was Andrey Santos, as he prepares for his first season as a senior star at Stamford Bridge.
Caicedo praised Santos ahead of the game, however did not get the chance to feature alongside the Brazil international in the routine win, an opportunity which looked perfect to get a decent look at their new young star.
Maresca should have started Santos in order to put to bed any murmurs of discontent and worry from the midfielder that he would not be getting sufficient opportunities at Stamford Bridge next season.
Santos thinks he is ready to feature for Chelsea now after 18 months on loan at Strasbourg, and his talent has made him too crucial an asset to let slip through their fingers.
Top clubs keeping an eye on Santos
With there being no assurances made to the midfielder about his place in West London, a number of clubs are keeping tabs on the situation to see if a transfer is viable.
Arsenal have been linked with signing Santos to bolster their midfield options, although on paper a starting spot there looks equally difficult to secure.
Barcelona were gutted to miss out on Santos in the first place, and would no doubt jump at the chance to sign the Brazilian should it arise.
With two group stage games to go and rotation expected from the Blues, Santos must be one of the first names on the teamsheet for Friday’s fixture against Flamengo, who also won their first group game.
