3 reasons why Enzo Maresca should keep Lesley Ugochukwu & loan Andrey Santos
Chelsea have spent the past two years stockpiling young talents like they are going out of fashion. The club hierarchy has shelled out over £1 billion in search of the next big thing.
Consequently, Chelsea are stuck with a bloated squad, and there is a logjam in several positions in the team – none more so than midfield, where the Blues have four defensive midfielders, five if you count incoming Renato Veiga as one and not a left-back.
Club record signing Moises Caicedo is the first-choice holding midfielder, while a fully fit and rearing-to-go Romeo Lavia is set to deputise.
There is space for one final backup holding midfielder, and new boss Enzo Maresca will likely have to choose between France youth international Lesley Ugochukwu and the exciting Andrey Santos.
Many might be tempted to tilt towards Santos, who has a seemingly higher ceiling for development, but Ugochukwu should be the one to keep next season for a few crucial reasons.
Height advantage
Chelsea have a height problem in midfield. Lavia, Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandez are all below 5ft10.
None of them is a particularly impressive jumper, leaving the Blues at a disadvantage regarding aerial duels in the centre. All three have recorded below-average aerial numbers in their Premier League career.
6ft2 Ugochukwu sorts this problem for Maresca. The 20-year-old won 82% of his aerial duels in 12 Premier League appearances.
For comparison, Santos won only 59% in Ligue 1. Interestingly, Ugochukwu has also won a higher percentage of his ground duels.
Manchester City have an advantage with a tall holding midfielder like Rodrigo Cascante in the centre. He wins 71% of his aerial duels, giving the Citizens security in the air.
This aerial dominance is valuable. Chelsea must seize it by having a tall midfielder in the squad.
Ugochukwu & Santos need continuity
Both players need continuity at this stage of their careers – one can argue that the Blues also need it after all the upheavals of these past two years.
Santos is better off continuing his loan spell at Strasbourg, where he was beginning to find his groove towards the end of last season, winning the April Ligue 1 Young Player of the Month award for his fine displays.
He joined Chelsea’s sister club in France during the January window and began to flourish under manager Patrick Vieira.
The Brazilian youth international still has plenty to learn from the legendary French midfielder turned head coach.
Chelsea and Ugochukwu also need continuity. The West Londoners are preparing for a season that might see the club play up to 60 games across the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Europa Conference League, and revamped FIFA Club World Cup.
Ugochukwu will find game time in all those competitions to build on his 2023/24 showings while gaining valuable domestic and European experience. It makes sense for all parties to continue in this direction.
Chelsea might have a new John Mikel Obi on their hands
Many Chelsea fans will fondly remember the days of midfielder John Mikel Obi, whom managers at the club used to secure matches.
Obi was famously branded the human full-time whistle. The Nigerian international had a way of taking the sting out of matches, and if the Blues had the lead, they rarely relinquished it once he came on.
Obi sat deep, broke up attacks and regurgitated possession in a way that frustrated the opposition, and Ugochukwu looks like he can fulfil that role. Manager Mauricio Pochettino used him in that role last term.
Beyond their Nigerian heritage, Ugochukwu and Obi are stylistically similar, and Maresca can utilise the former to see out games. He can be the man to relieve pressure on the defence and close out wins.