Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has urged teenage sensation Estevao Willian to follow the positional pathway undertaken by his fellow team-mate Cole Palmer. Maresca addressed talk of a position change for Estevao and believes that the young Brazilian can seamlessly transition from a right winger to an attacking midfielder, provided he is "physically prepared" for the challenge.
Estevao impressive during adaptation period at Chelsea
Estevao's minutes have been managed quite meticulously by manager Maresca as the youngster adapts to the rigours of the Premier League. However, the €57 million (£50m/$67m) signing has shown flashes of brilliance despite only starting four games and managing only 326 minutes in the eight games he has played across all competitions. He bagged an assist in the 5-1 drubbing of West Ham in August, but has since failed to contribute to a goal directly.
AdvertisementAFPPalmer's injury opens doors for Estevao
Palmer has had rotten luck with injuries in the first two months of the 2025-26 campaign. Ahead of the second league game against West Ham in August, the ex-Man City starlet suffered an issue during warm-up, forcing him to miss the game despite being named in the starting XI. It was then revealed that Palmer was diagnosed with a groin injury, which kept him out for three weeks. He returned to action against Brentford in mid-September, after the international break, but suffered a relapse in his groin during the dismal 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
Although the Blues have the on-loan Facundo Buonanotte to count upon in the No.10 role amid injuries to Palmer and Liam Delap, who is a centre-forward, Maresca believes Estevao can make the transition to a No.10 and plug in in the absence of their 23-year-old talisman.
Estevao reminds Maresca of Palmer
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Maresca said: "I think Estevao reminded me a lot of Cole when Cole was with me in the U23s at City, and when he was with us in the first team. I think Cole's path has been similar to Estevao's path in terms of starting wide as a winger. And then slowly, slowly you can move inside.”
However, the Italian head coach also admitted that the Brazil international will need to bulk up in order to thrive in the new role. “The Premier League is completely different compared to other countries in the world. If you want to play in the middle, you need to be physically prepared,” the former Leicester City boss said.
“I think Cole now is like that. In the past, he needed to develop that. I see Estevao exactly in the same way.”
Getty/GOALLiverpool challenge awaits Chelsea
It will be interesting to see how Maresca sets up his team and who makes the cut in his starting XI against the defending Premier League champions on Sunday. Desperate for a win after two defeats and a draw in their last three league outings, the 45-year-old will be under pressure to get both his player combinations and tactics right against Arne Slot's men.