Maresca's Masterplan for Chelsea's Newest Star
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has responded to fan criticism regarding his handling of teenage prodigy Estevao, insisting he will gradually increase the 18-year-old's playing time following a match-winning cameo against Wolves. The Blues secured a convincing 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, a result that propelled them to second place in the Premier League table, just six points behind leaders Arsenal.
Fan Frustration and Instant Impact
The Chelsea boss faced questions from supporters after choosing not to start the Brazilian winger, despite his man-of-the-match display against Qarabag in the Champions League earlier in the week. The discontent grew during the first half against Wolves, but the game turned when Malo Gusto broke the deadlock for the hosts.
Maresca introduced Estevao as a substitute in the 64th minute, and the young talent made an immediate impact. Shortly after entering the pitch, Estevao provided the cross for Joao Pedro to score Chelsea's second goal. Pedro Neto then added a third to complete the comprehensive victory.
Managing the Hype Around a £100 Million Talent
In his post-match press conference, Maresca was informed that data companies are already valuing the 18-year-old at a staggering £100 million. When asked for his verdict on this valuation, the Italian coach was unequivocal.
"Yeah, you can see that, absolutely," Maresca stated. "His talent is top. Again, we are trying to help him adapt and give him the right minutes, and he's doing fantastic. He will be for this club, in the next five or ten years, a top, top player."
Acknowledging the difficulty in containing the excitement surrounding his young star, Maresca admitted, "Absolutely, yes." He elaborated on his cautious approach, highlighting the need for Estevao to adapt after his arrival from Brazil.
"I said already twice the reason why fans pay tickets is because they want to see players like Estevao and like Cole [Palmer] because people are happy when they are on the pitch," Maresca explained. "The only difference is Estevao arrived from Brazil, he needs to adapt a little bit. Slowly, slowly, he's going to start games for us in the future."
The manager also addressed the mood inside Stamford Bridge, noting the palpable shift in energy when his young star entered the fray. "I can understand first half people were not happy because we didn't score, not because of the performance, to be honest. And then when Estevao was on the pitch the energy raised because people loved that kind of player, so we are happy he can help the team and the fans can be happy."
