Even though Chelsea got off to a slow start in the Premier League with a 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace, Estevao Willian’s competitive debut for the club was a real bright spark.
Estevao Willian, 18, came off the bench for Chelsea on Sunday to make his Premier League debut. The teenage right-winger showed huge potential with the injection of pace and directness, too.
Estêvão is the third youngest Brazilian player to appear in the Premier League (18y 115d), after Rafael in 2008 (18y 39d) and Gabriel Martinelli in 2019 (18y 54d).
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Jamie Carragher’s prediction on Estevao is that it won’t be long before he breaks into Enzo Maresca’s strongest starting line-up.
The Blues’ summer signing has arrived at Stamford Bridge with a lot of expectation on his young shoulders. Despite his age, he’s got plenty of top-level experience with both Palmeiras and the Brazilian national side.
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty ImagesEstevao Willian admits he’s adapted quicker than he thought at Chelsea
Estevao claims that he’s settled at Chelsea a lot quicker than he expected, which will fill the Blues fanbase with real excitement.
“I feel so good. It’s an incredible experience to be here playing in the Premier League and I’m just so grateful I have been given the opportunity here,” Estevao said, as quoted by Chelsea’s official website.
“I have adapted a lot quicker than I thought I would thanks to the manager, the coaching staff and all my new team-mates. They have all helped me so much and given everything to me since I arrived to make me feel comfortable and give me confidence. Everyone has helped me adapt to the game, but also the new conditions here.”
We agree with Estevao that it looks like he’s settled in very quickly to his new surroundings, which is extremely impressive from the teenager.
Estevao impressed in Chelsea’s pre-season games before an eye-catching debut in the Premier League. The fact that he entered the action against Palace and looked like one of his side’s biggest attacking threats from the right wing says a lot.
Blues manager Enzo Maresca insists Estevao will be important for Chelsea, and it feels like that could be straight away.
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty ImagesEstevao Willian should start vs West Ham
On Friday night, Chelsea travel to West Ham in search of their first three points of the new Premier League season.
The Blues went with Pedro Neto and Jamie Gittens on the wings for the draw against Palace, but we think Estevao has done enough to warrant a chance in the starting XI this week. At this stage of the campaign, Maresca needs to pick the players that look the sharpest and fittest.
West Ham suffered a 3-0 defeat against Sunderland in their opening fixture, so we would love to see what a fearless Estevao could do to the Hammers backline.
Chelsea fans want Estevao to start over Gittens for the upcoming trip to West Ham.