Chelsea will be looking for redemption for Wednesday’s Leeds catastrophe against Bournemouth, and Enzo Maresca’s intentions with Estevao Willian may have just become more clear.
Saturday’s road trip offers the Blues a chance to right the ship after a capitulation at Elland Road during the midweek Premier League action..
Chelsea fans were furious with Maresca for personnel decisions that they feel cost the home side a valuable three points, and the narrative has changed from the highs of last weekend.
We predict Maresca won’t start Estevao against Bournemouth, but that was always going to depend on an update we expected to come in the lead up to Saturday.
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Enzo Maresca hasn’t changed his tune about Estevao Willian
It wasn’t the best performance from the Brazilian against Leeds, though the same can be said for every Chelsea player that night.
Maresca subbed Estevao off at half-time, feeling as though he had no choice after the youngster was put into the book.
On that performance, the Chelsea boss isn’t holding it against Estevao.
He says (via Football London): “My feeling was not Leeds targeted him, my feeling was they targeted all of our players, not just Estevao. It’s something that will be a process for him to become better and better.”
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As for the upcoming Bournemouth clash, Maresca is maintaining the same stance he has all season — and Chelsea fans might not like it.
He continues: “It’s too easy to put him on the pitch and play, play, play but we need to manage him a bit.”
With Palmer back, Blues fans are desperate to see the two on the pitch together from the start, but Maresca’s words about managing Estevao suggest we may be waiting a bit longer.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca giving instructions to Estevao Willian
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Bournemouth would be a hard game for Estevao
Bournemouth are going through a rough patch, no doubt.
But this is a very strong, aggressive side that can give any team problems. Not long ago, they were ahead of Chelsea in the table.
As Maresca puts it: “Bournemouth will be a similar game to Leeds, that is why we need to be better. Leeds was very intense and were better than us in all aspects. Hopefully, we can learn from that and be better tomorrow.”
It’s going to be an intense game, with Andoni Iraola’s side one of the best at pressing in the league —especially at home.
That being said, it’s a game Chelsea have to win in order to quell the discontent born out of the Leeds loss.
That may require a moment of individual brilliance, of which Estevao has plenty.
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