{"id":11216,"date":"2026-05-20T11:31:05","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T11:31:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=11216"},"modified":"2026-05-20T11:31:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T11:31:05","slug":"the-chelsea-star-with-a-100-pass-rate-and-more-tackles-than-anyone-vs-tottenham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=11216","title":{"rendered":"The Chelsea star with a 100% pass rate and more tackles than anyone vs Tottenham"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Chelsea have finally ended a run of seven Premier League games without a win thanks to a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night, days after Xabi Alonso was confirmed as manager.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite defeat in the FA Cup final, optimism felt aplenty at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea had announced Alonso would become BlueCo\u2019s sixth permanent gaffer since their takeover back in the summer of 2022.<\/p>\n

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Who was your Man of the Match tonight?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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That optimism translated onto the pitch. After Cole Palmer spoke of his excitement to work with Alonso, Enzo Fernandez blasted Chelsea into the lead from 25 yards. Andrey Santos made it two in the second 45.<\/p>\n

The Brazilian was impressive against Man City on Saturday and retained his place, despite suffering the disappointment of being left out of Brazil\u2019s World Cup squad. Spurs got one back, but it wasn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n

Andrey Santos shines as Chelsea beat Tottenham<\/h2>\n

While Fernandez got a goal and an assist, Palmer looked back to his normal self, and Jorrel Hato made a stunning last-ditch tackle to deny James Maddison, it was Santos that impressed most as per the stats.<\/p>\n

According to FotMob, Santos completed all 39 of his passes. It is a rarity for a player to go an entire match without misplacing a pass, and yet the former Strasbourg loanee did just that on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

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Not only did Santos shine with the ball, he did so defensively, too. He completed five tackles against Spurs, more than any other player. Marc Cucurella, Pedro Neto and Destiny Udogie all managed three.<\/p>\n

Santos was also joint first in terms of duels won among Chelsea\u2019s players alongside Cucurella, Neto and Josh Acheampong with six, yet the latter trio lost more duels than Santos\u2019 two. Oh, and he got the winner.<\/p>\n

Xabi Alonso will be keen to keep Santos after Spurs display<\/h2>\n

There is interest in Santos ahead of the summer. With the Brazilian set to remain at home instead of being a part of Carlo Ancelotti\u2019s squad, a transfer now looks more accessible if clubs do come calling.<\/p>\n

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DISCUSS: Carlo Ancelotti was wrong to leave Andrey Santos out of his Brazil World Cup squad \ud83c\udfc6<\/h3>\n

He was inch-perfect aganist Spurs.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Man United and Inter Milan are among the clubs supposedly looking at the midfielder. Santos has hinted he would like to remain at Chelsea this summer, and boasts a contract at Stamford Bridge until 2030.<\/p>\n

But if Alonso was watching \u2013 and he surely would have been \u2013 he will be convinced that Santos is part of his era as manager. A swashbuckling display, at both ends, that will have Ancelotti regretting his decision.<\/p>\n

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