Liam Rosenior had to be worried on Wednesday night after watching Chelsea lose 2-1 to Fulham.
The new Chelsea head coach would have spotted a few problems at Craven Cottage, including his team’s lack of discipline.
Marc Cucurella was sent off in just the 22nd minute, which was the Blues’ fifth red card this season.
Marc Cucurella’s red card vs Fulham was Chelsea’s fifth in the Premier League this season! 🔴
How does Liam Rosenior solve Chelsea's disciplinary problem?
Chelsea players to have been sent off:
- Marc Cucurella
- Moises Caicedo
- Malo Gusto
- Trevoh Chalobah
- Robert Sanchez
It cost Chelsea the game and one of his teammates the chance to show everyone what he is truly capable of.
- READ MORE: Marco Silva claims Chelsea star Pedro Neto did something ‘very well’ despite losing to Fulham
Marc Cucurella spoiled rare opportunity for Andrey Santos
As a result of Cucurella’s dismissal, Calum McFarlane had to sacrifice another starter to bring on a defender. The player he chose was Andrey Santos.
Santos’ start against Fulham was only his fifth in the Premier League this term. He was not given too many chances under Enzo Maresca so had a point to make on Wednesday night.
However, Cucurella’s moment of madness prevented him from being able to do so. It is a shame, as the midfielder played really well when he came on against Manchester City last weekend.
What does Liam Rosenior have to do to get the best out of Cole Palmer?
A very mixed performance against Fulham…
Cole Palmer’s Premier League stats this season:
- 11 appearances
- 3 goals
- 0 assists
McFarlane thought Santos was “exceptional”, and it looked like he was going to build on that display in the west London derby.
Santos started the game strongly, almost scoring after hitting the woodwork. He was pretty good in possession, with the Brazilian only misplacing two passes, according to Sofascore.
Everything was pointing towards Santos having a successful outing, but Cucurella robbed him of that. If the Brazil international is not already, he should be fuming with his teammate.
Andrey Santos should get more chances under Liam Rosenior
With Rosenior now in charge of Chelsea, this is not the last time supporters will see Santos.
Rosenior has already managed Santos at Strasbourg, where the 21-year-old excelled. Last season, he managed to score 11 goals in 38 games across all competitions, which is a good return for a midfielder.
In London derbies and Chelsea’s other big games, it would not be a surprise to see Santos come in to give Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez more support in midfield.
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