HP Terbaru 2023 – Ready to shine under Rosenior

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By Graham Ruthven

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There was no catching Estêvão. Gifted the ball just inside the Crystal Palace half, the Chelsea winger still had plenty to do to find the back of the net. There was 40 yards for him to make up and an opposition defender to hold off. Yet Estêvão had no trouble converting to put Chelsea 1-0 up and on course for a valuable win.

Estêvão also set up João Pedro for Chelsea’s second goal at Selhurst Park, shining throughout for Liam Rosenior’s resurgent team who have now won four of the five matches they have played since the managerial change. The Brazilian’s talent has never been more obvious than it was on Sunday.

One wonders what Enzo Maresca thought of Estevao’s performance against Palace. While the Italian coach was always publicly glowing about the teenager’s potential, he undeniably held him back for much of the first half of the season. This was a source of frustration for many Chelsea supporters.

Injury and illness also played a part in Estêvão starting just eight Premier League games, but Maresca was careful not to throw the teenager in at the deep end. This was admirable in a sense and might have helped Estêvão acclimatise to his new surroundings after joining from Palmeiras last summer. In another sense, though, it limited Chelsea’s attack.

Chelsea have spent the best part of £400m on new attackers in the last two seasons. Liam Delap, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, Pedro and Estêvão all arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer in an attempt to supercharge the potency of the Blues’ forward line. Those new signings, however, have all endured challenges at various points of the season.

The Stamford Bridge club’s model is designed to attract some of the most talented youngsters in the global game. Chelsea had the youngest squad in the Premier League last season and Estêvão is the wonderkid currently at the club with the biggest upside. He has the makings of a superstar.

“He’s a player with special abilities, special talent,” said Rosenior when asked about Estêvão’s sparkling performance against Palace. “He’s been ill, and every time he’s been on the pitch so far with me, I think he’s been outstanding. But I feel if you watch that goal, what makes me so happy is all 11 men are back behind the ball. That’s why he gets the space.”

No Premier League teenager has registered more goal contributions across all competitions than Estêvão this season. The Brazilian has tallied 24 successful dribbles over the course of the 2025/26 campaign so far and has earned a reputation for being single-minded in his determination to get into the opposition box at every possible opportunity.

Chelsea need more forward thrust in the final third. It was a common complaint of Maresca’s approach that the Blues didn’t do enough to force the issue against low defensive blocks, too often choosing to recycle possession when something out of the ordinary was required to break through.

This is where Estêvão could meaningfully move the needle. The teenager only has one thought on his mind whenever he receives the ball – make something happen. He did that more than once against Crystal Palace on Sunday and will be expected to produce on a regular basis to continue his development.

Capable of playing on either wing, Estêvão is two-footed. He is naturally fast and skilful. The epitome of a quintessential Brazilian winger in the mould of Vinícius Júnior or Neymar. It’s easy to see why Chelsea were so eager to pay a reported €34m to sign him not long after his breakthrough at Palmeiras.

Estêvão gets fans out of their seats. It is an inherently exhilarating experience to watch the 18-year-old in full flow, as he was for periods of the win over Crystal Palace. If Maresca-ball was dull, Estêvão might have been the antidote had the Italian trusted the young winger more thoroughly.

Withdrawn 16 minutes from the end against Palace, Estêvão received a standing ovation from the away support at Selhurst Park. He represents the brightest hopes and dreams of a fanbase that wants to believe it will see Chelsea challenge for the biggest prizes in the near future. Estêvão represents the best of Clearlake’s strategy when there is so much else that represents its worst.

Rosenior’s Chelsea is still a work-in-progress. The 41-year-old has enjoyed a positive start to life at Stamford Bridge, but the true measure of his management will be taken in the output he is able to squeeze out of the group of players he inherited. There’s more to squeeze out of Estêvão than most.

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(Images from IMAGO)

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