Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has praised teenage sensation Estevao for his game changing performance in the club’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Right-back Malo Gusto opened the scoring for Chelsea with a well-timed header in the 51st minute, giving the hosts a narrow lead. However, the game remained finely poised until the introduction of 18-year-old Estevao just after the hour mark.
The Brazilian winger made an instant impact, creating a goal for fellow countryman Joao Pedro just a minute after coming on to double Chelsea’s advantage.
“I was very worried before this game. These are the worst games, tricky ones where everyone expects it to be easy,” Maresca told reporters after the match. “I understand people weren’t happy in the first half because we didn’t score. Then when Estevao came on, the energy lifted fans love players like him.
“You can see his talent. We’re helping him adapt and giving him the right minutes. He’s come from Brazil, so he needs time, but he’ll definitely start games for us in the future.”
Maresca also applauded Alejandro Garnacho’s work rate, after the Argentine winger, who joined Chelsea from Manchester United in August in a deal worth around £40 million ($53.6 million)provided two assists in the win.
“He arrived from a club where he wasn’t training 100%, so his physical condition wasn’t great,” Maresca added. “Now he’s improving. He knows that to play for us, he has to contribute both on and off the ball, and he’s doing that. We’re very happy with him.”
The victory lifted Chelsea to second place in the Premier League standings, one point above Manchester City, who have a game in hand and face Liverpool later on Sunday.
Chelsea will return to league action on November 22, when they travel to face Burnley after the international break.
