Andrey Santos returned to Chelsea in January, following an unsuccessful loan spell with Nottingham Forest previous season.
It was a loan move that did not benefit any of the parties involved, with Andrey Santos’ minutes severely curtailed under Steve Cooper.
Santos only played 97 minutes of football under Cooper on his half-season loan with the Reds.
After leaving the City Ground, Santos secured another loan transfer to French club RC Strasbourg, where additional minutes were made available.
However, he has since reflected on his time at Forest and expressed his opinion on Cooper’s management.
What Andrey Santos actually said about Steve Cooper at Nottingham Forest
Santos was a footballer that made the big transfer to England with Chelsea last summer, reportedly for £18 million.
The Blues were clearly investing on the player’s potential, as the young Brazilian midfielder arrived from his homeland after impressing at Vasco de Gama.
The 20-year-old has returned to Chelsea following his spell in France, where he made 11 appearances (893 minutes) and scored once.
However, it appears that his spell in Forest had a long-lasting effect on him.
Santos recently spoke with Premier League Brasil, where he reflected on his transition to England.
” It was unexpected (to have departed on loan), but I understand it is part of the process. It is quite tough for a young player from Brazil to play overseas, particularly in the Premier League,” he stated.
“We can’t foretell what will happen. But I was always well, wanting to help, and making a difference in training, to the point where the coach at the time, Steve Cooper, was constantly complimenting me, but he didn’t give me any opportunities. “I was at my peak both physically and technically,” he said of his time at Forest.
Steve Cooper explained Andrey Santos snub back in December
Only one of Santos’ two Forest outings came in the Premier League, when he was given a seven-minute cameo in the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool.
His other opportunity came in the Carabao Cup, where he played the entire 90 minutes of another defeat to Burnley.
Despite not giving the Brazilian minutes, Cooper acknowledged he was impressed with what he saw from the youngster.
“Of course, everyone would have preferred Andrey to play more. “He’s a really good young player, but there aren’t many players his age who play regularly in the Premier League,” Cooper told the media in December.
“It is the sort of situation where if he was our player, he would be in the perfect situation of being in and around the first-team, looking to involve him and giving him some exposure when you can, but knowing you are developing him and getting him ready.”