Chelsea put in one of their best performances under Enzo Maresca on Tuesday night after beating Barcelona 3-0.
An own goal by Jules Kounde before strikes from Estevao Willian and Liam Delap saw Chelsea earn all three points and move to fifth in the Champions League table.
Gianfranco Zola was really impressed with Estevao, hailing the 18-year-old as “brave” following his display against the Spanish champions.
Estevao’s stunning goal against Barcelona!
Estevao was just one of several Chelsea stars who were eager to take on Barcelona in Europe’s elite competition.
Chelsea winger Estevao Willian celebrating goal against Barcelona
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Estevao Willian, Enzo Fernandez, Reece James, Marc Cucurella and Andrey Santos all wanted to face Barcelona
Before the Champions League draw was made in August, Chelsea players were asked which team they would like to face in the tournament.
Estevao, Enzo Fernandez, Reece James, Marc Cucurella and Andrey Santos all responded with Barcelona in a video shared by Chelsea’s official X account.
The highlights from Chelsea’s dominant victory over Barcelona!
Cucurella’s desire to play against Barcelona came as no surprise. The defender rose through the ranks there.
Cucurella also scored against Barcelona during a loan spell at their Spanish rivals Eibar.
On Tuesday, the left-back punished his former club again, as it was his ball into the box that led to Kounde’s own goal.
Chelsea players celebrating goal against Barcelona
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Why Robert Sanchez wanted another PSG showdown
In the response to the same question that Cucurella and the others were asked, Robert Sanchez said Real Madrid before changing his answer to Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea beat PSG 3-0 in the Club World Cup final in July, and Sanchez felt that a lot of excuses were made that day.
As a result, the goalkeeper wanted another chance to beat them and silence Chelsea’s doubters.
They will not get the chance to do that during the league phase of the Champions League, but it will be a possibility if both teams make it to the knockout round, which you would expect to happen.
Following his red card against Manchester United back in September, Sanchez has gone from strength to strength. If Chelsea played PSG right now, you would back the Spaniard to have a good game.