Chelsea have won the majority of their Premier League games this season, and they have done so without their talisman Cole Palmer.
So far, Chelsea have recorded seven wins, two draws and three defeats. It has them sitting in second, just six points behind Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side.
The good news is Palmer has been spotted in training, so the attacking midfielder could return to action very soon.
Who will have the better career at Chelsea?
Whatever the case, Gianfranco Zola is confident that his former club will be competitive this season.
Cole Palmer and Gianfranco Zola pose at the PFA Awards 2024 - Backstage
Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Gianfranco Zola claims Estevao Willian can help Chelsea to remain competitive
According to Zola, Estevao Willian and the other young players that Chelsea have at their disposal have softened the blow of losing Palmer and ensured that the team are still competing.
Speaking to the BBC ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League tie with Barcelona, Zola said: “He is a huge miss. We know that Cole is such an influential player for the team.
“But the squad Chelsea have got, they are very competitive. They have young players coming through — Estevao is one of those — so they have the resources to be competitive without Cole.”
With Palmer unlikely to feature, there could be an opportunity for the young Brazilian to start against Hansi Flick’s side.
However, if it is a straight shoot-out to start on the right flank, many Chelsea fans think Enzo Maresca will go with Pedro Neto.
Neto has been Chelsea’s best winger this term, scoring again in their 2-0 victory over Burnley. It was the 25-year-old’s fourth goal of the campaign.
Pedro Neto, Estevao and Liam Delap of Chelsea line up
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
What Estevao Willian has done in Cole Palmer’s absence this season
Estevao has really stepped up following Palmer’s groin injury. Replacing the Englishman in the starting line-up for Chelsea’s 5-1 win against West Ham United, Estevao managed to register an assist.
He followed that up with a winning goal versus Liverpool, another match that Palmer missed.
Estevao Willian’s first ever Premier League goal
The Brazil international has also been able to make an impact in the Champions League, netting twice in the competition so far.
Ultimately, because of the likes of Estevao and Moises Caicedo, Chelsea have remained competitive while Palmer has been on the sidelines. They look to have shaken off that one-man team tag they were starting to be labelled with.