How ‘best collection of midfielders’ in Premier League makes Chelsea genuine title contenders after triumph at Burnley

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Joe Cole says Chelsea possess the strongest group of central midfielders in the Premier League and argues his former club could yet play their way into the title conversation after securing a third consecutive league victory at Burnley. Enzo Maresca handed Andrey Santos just his third Premier League start, selecting the youngster ahead of regular choice Moises Caicedo to partner Enzo Fernandez.

Highlights: Neto and Fernandez on target as Chelsea overcome Burnley

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Joe Cole believes Chelsea boast the "best collection of central midfielders" in the Premier League and is confident his former club could play themselves into the title race following a third straight league win at Burnley.

Goals in either half from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez at Turf Moor earned Enzo Maresca's side an eighth win in their last 10 outings in all competitions to rise to second in the Premier League table ahead of the rest of the weekend's action.

Maresca opted to deploy Andrey Santos for only his third-ever Premier League start in place of the regular option of Moises Caicedo alongside Fernandez, and the 21-year-old Brazilian repaid his manager's faith with a player-of-the-match display.

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Cole feels that Santos has shown himself to be capable of starting for Chelsea on a more regular basis and has argued that no other Premier League side can call upon an array of talent as impressive as their midfield options.

Cole told TNT Sports: "I thought Andrey Santos was outstanding. It wasn't so much what he did on the ball. He was very tidy, very efficient.

"But off the ball, we questioned it, didn't we? We said, 'How would Chelsea react without [Moises] Caicedo today because of the things that he can do, blocking runs and breaking down play'.

Chelsea have best collection of midfielders in Premier League - Cole

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"But he [Santos] was absolutely outstanding. Every time there was a bit of danger, he sniffed it out. Sometimes, I think players have a natural ability in this area, and he seems to be one of those types of players. Chelsea have got Enzo [Fernandez], [Romeo] Lavia, [Moises] Caicedo, and Andrey Santos as well.

"Is there a collection of four midfielders better in the league, central midfielders, in that sort of type of players that they are? I don't think there is."

Fellow TNT Sports pundit Joleon Lescott shared Cole's opinion, adding: "I think the level of quality that they all have, and his understanding today, was exceptional.

"Not only did he win it back, but in all the clips you've seen, he keeps possession, and that is so important to not just make a tackle, make a block, and then the ball is at risk again in a 50-50.

"He was keeping possession, and to have that level of understanding from someone so young is so impressive, as you would usually expect it from someone with a lot more experience."

Are Chelsea title contenders? Cole and Lescott have their say

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Santos joined Chelsea from Brazilian club Vasco de Gama in January 2023 in a £17.5 million deal, but the player has since had loan spells at Nottingham Forest and sister club Strasbourg in order to help his development.

During his second loan spell in Ligue 1 last season, Santos played regularly and convinced Maresca that he could contribute this campaign.

Caicedo was an unused substitute following his travel exertions from playing during the international break for Ecuador, but Cole admitted the player signed from Brighton for £115m was not missed in East Lancashire and feels Santos' patience is now being rewarded.

"Some players have not bided their time at Chelsea - thinking of Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah," Cole continued.

"Others have bided their time and worked their way into the side. Chelsea has traditionally stockpiled players over the years, and it is a big squad. How many games is he going to play?

Fernandez smashes home Chelsea's second to seal win at Burnley

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"But if Chelsea have designs on going deep into competitions this season, I think they will play him enough to satisfy him now, but for me, he looks like a starter.

"There are a lot of players all of a sudden at Chelsea who look like that. Cole Palmer coming back from injury is actually now a bit of a problem, because Joao Pedro looks more comfortable as a No. 10. Palmer has to play, so there are a lot of options. Chelsea could be sneaking back into title contention."

Maresca was delighted with Santos' influence on his team's latest success, and believes that he benefitted from being able to play in his natural position in Caicedo's absence.

The Italian told TNT Sports: "He was very good. Andrey's position is the position that he played today. With us, most of the time he plays a little bit higher, a little bit in the pocket, but it's because in that position we have Moises, so we try to find solutions, space for Andrey.

Neto grabs opener for Chelsea with 'terrific' diving header

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"But we are aware and we know that Andrey's position is the position that he played today. It was very good, I think also Jamie Gittens was very good, so it's important to have all of them on board."

Neto, scorer of Chelsea's first goal, echoed his manager's views and has urged his team-mate to build on his stand-out performance.

"He was unbelievable," Neto told TNT Sports. "The fight that he had in the middle of the pitch, the quality that he had to secure second balls, to take the ball away from the pressure.

"We need these kinds of things when we are in a game that there's a lot of battles to calm down the game, so I am really happy for him. He's working a lot and we hope he continues to help the team like he's doing."

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