Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Chelsea starlet Estevao Willian was omitted from his latest squad solely due to ongoing injury concerns.
Estevao Willian has been the breakthrough star in the Premier League this season for Chelsea, scoring seven goals and assisting three so far.
It has been claimed that Estevao will return after the international break, as the Blues don’t want to rush him back too soon.
His absence has been felt even more with Pedro Neto missing a couple of games, so Cole Palmer has taken on a role on the right at times. Something that won’t please John Obi Mikel.
But the upcoming break gives Chelsea the chance to hopefully get Estevao fully fit.
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Carlo Ancelotti explains his Estevao Willian decision
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has justified exactly why he decided not to pick Estevao Willian for the upcoming international break.
As per ESPN Brasil, the former Chelsea boss had this to say.
“The option on this list depended a lot on injuries. It is a list created with players who are in good physical condition. We had important injuries, such as those of Militão, Bruno Guimarães, Estevao, Rodrygo…”
Estevao is still in Ancelotti’s plans for the World Cup this summer, despite his injuries and absence, so it’s just a matter of staying fit for the Brazilian.
How many points will be enough for fifth place?
Chelsea currently sit on 48 points.
Estevao Willian’s role to play
Estevao Willian’s primary objective for the remainder of the 2025/26 season is to prioritise long-term physical durability over immediate impact.
With Jamie Gittens also struggling with similar issues, Estevao must show maturity by managing his explosive bursts of pace, the very attribute that makes him dangerous but also vulnerable to recurrence.
On the pitch, his task is to provide the magic Chelsea lacked in their recent 1-0 defeat to Newcastle. As the club’s youngest-ever Champions League scorer, his goal-scoring threat from the right wing is vital for a top-four charge.
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