Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca commended the performance of young talent Estêvão following his team’s 2–0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday night. Estêvão, who was a summer signing, played a pivotal role despite starting the match on the bench. His impactful substitution drew enthusiastic cheers from the crowd at Stamford Bridge, highlighting the excitement surrounding the 18-year-old Brazilian.
Estêvão entered the match in the second half and wasted no time making an impression. Within a minute of his introduction, he executed a clever maneuver to deliver a low cross that set up João Pedro for Chelsea’s second goal. The Brazilian forward’s contribution was acknowledged by Pedro, who pointed to Estêvão in celebration.
Maresca expressed high hopes for Estêvão, stating, “He’s doing fantastic. For this club, in the next 5–10 years, he will be a top, top player.” He emphasized that fans come to see players like Estêvão and Cole Palmer, who bring excitement to the pitch. The coach noted the challenges Estêvão faces in adapting to a new environment, saying, “The only difference is that Estêvão arrived from Brazil; he needs a little bit to adapt.”
According to a recent analysis by the CIES Football Observatory, Estêvão’s market value has soared to €118.1 million (£103.8 million, $136.6 million), ranking him as the second most expensive teenager in global football, just behind Lamine Yamal of Barcelona. Maresca concurred with this valuation, noting, “You can see that, absolutely. He’s top, he’s a talent.”
Despite his promising performance, Maresca remains cautious, advising against overhyping the young player. “Slowly, slowly, for sure, it’s going to start again for us in the future,” he said. The coach recognized the energy Estêvão brought to the game, which he believes resonates with fans.
Fan Frustration and Tactical Insights
The match began with a tense atmosphere as Chelsea fans expressed their dissatisfaction during the first half. The home side struggled to break the deadlock against a Wolves team currently at the bottom of the Premier League table, leading to audible boos at halftime. “I was very worried before this game because these are the worst games, these are tricky games,” Maresca admitted.
Chelsea had dominated possession and shots, registering 11 attempts while denying Wolves any significant chances in the first half. Despite the frustration from supporters, Maresca was unfazed. “I was very, very, very happy at halftime, to be honest. The difference between halftime and the second half has been that we just scored goals,” he explained.
He underscored the importance of being clinical in front of goal, saying, “When you don’t concede anything and you create four or five chances, you have to be clinical.” The team’s ability to score in the second half, aided by Estêvão’s contributions, alleviated the pressure and ultimately secured a vital win for Chelsea.
Maresca’s remarks reflect a balance of optimism and realism as Chelsea continues to navigate the challenges of the Premier League. With the emergence of young talents like Estêvão, the future looks promising for the club as they aim for success in the season ahead.
