Since Estevao Willian arrived at Stamford Bridge this summer, he has blown all expectations out of the water, becoming a key player for Enzo Maresca.
We all heard the hype around Estevao, but no one saw him taking to life in England as well as he has.
In his last seven games for club and country, the young Brazilian has five goals — the latest a sumptuous dink for Chelsea’s third against Wolves.
John Terry says Estevao has to start for Chelsea now, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who disagrees with him. But it’s not just the output. Maresca has explained what he thinks makes the winger so special.
Enzo Maresca coaching Estevao Willian for Chelsea
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Enzo Maresca praises Estevao Willian after brilliant Chelsea start
The Chelsea boss clearly likes what he has seen from the 18-year-old in the opening weeks of the season.
You can tell by the fact that Maresca compares Estevao’s maturity to Cole Palmer. When your manager is continuously drawing comparisons to the undisputed best player, you know you’re doing something right.
Ahead of the trip to Tottenham, he was again asked about Estevao and what makes him so exciting.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Maresca says: “He’s top. I said already it’s a little bit like Cole, they are special, they are different and they are the reason why people come to the stadium.”
When you watch Estevao play, you can instantly see what the Italian is talking about. He has that special something that lifts fans out of their seats with excitement.
Chelsea have had an influx of young wide attackers this summer and in summers gone by, but this is a talent on a different level entirely. Many years younger than other recent arrivals, there’s an argument to be made that Estevao has had the best start of anyone.
He continues: “X factor. Yeah. Yeah. You can see, but I think all of us can see, not only the manager.”
Maresca’s friendly preview of Tottenham
In last season’s edition of this fixture, it ended 4-3 to the Blues. That was a fast and loose kind of game, and not one Maresca particularly enjoyed.
As he explains: “Personally, I prefer to win 1-0 than 4-3. Yeah. Uh, but again sometimes you have to play the game a different way.”
Postecoglou’s Spurs might have been a bottom-half team, but they were always an exciting watch. Under Frank, Maresca expects a different proposition. He praised the Dane’s organisation and called him a ‘fantastic manager.’
While there seems to be no bad blood between the bosses, the players — former and current — have engaged in some healthy back-and-forth. Terry made a brutal Tottenham claim after hearing Jamie O’Hara’s rather absurd take on who the bigger club is, and Palmer sent a cheeky message to Tottenham players on the eve of the clash.
This is a game that always carries a bit of bite, and it usually goes the way of Chelsea. Hopefully, it’s business as usual on Saturday evening.