Enzo Maresca will be licking his lips at what ‘special’ star just did away from Chelsea
Enzo Maresca will be excited to put more pressure on one star to produce more for Chelsea after what they did away from Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 before the international break to rise to seventh in the Premier League table, with Moises Caicedo‘s long-distance strike outshone by Estevao‘s very late winner.
The moment created absolute pandemonium at Stamford Bridge, with Maresca being sent off for excessive celebrations after charging down the touchline to celebrate with his players.
There have been some hugely positive signs for the Blues, and after a summer of spending, it is clear just how important the younger generation is becoming for the manager.
Enzo Maresca has a very special talent in Estevao
Only a handful of the first-team squad are 25 years old or above, going to show the style of coaching that Maresca wants to implement, and for the most part, it is working.
Of course, there are still hiccups in the current process, such as losing to Man United and Brighton in the Premier League due to red cards, but these mistakes can be remedied with experience.
And one player who is playing far beyond his years is 18-year-old Estevao, who already has two goal contributions in his first nine appearances since arriving in England this summer.
Pat Nevin described the young gem as “special” [BBC Sport], and that is hardly news, but Maresca will be rubbing his hands together after what he managed while away on international duty with Brazil.
Estevao carries on his impressive form for Brazil
During a 5-0 romping of South Korea on Friday, 10 October, Estevao scored twice, but it was so much more than just hitting the back of the net that his club manager will be satisfied with.
For his second goal, he quickly charged down Bayern Munich‘s Kim Min-Jae, robbing him inside his own penalty area, before slotting easily past the South Korean goalkeeper.
It was exactly the determination and tenacity that Maresca will want to see from his forward players as the Blues attempt to shoot the club back to its former days of lifting trophies and challenging for titles.
The manager will be waiting patiently for the winger to return, and with another game against Japan before his return, he will also be praying that he returns completely unscathed.