Liam Rosenior, the manager of Chelsea, said that Estevao, a teenage forward, cried in the dressing room after what looks like a hamstring injury during the Blues’ 1-0 home loss to Manchester United on Saturday night.
The 18-year-old Brazilian had to stop running towards the goal with his leg in pain during a promising one-on-one chance, which forced him to leave the game just 16 minutes in. Alejandro Garnacho took the place of the injured winger, and later, Matheus Cunha scored from a Bruno Fernandes assist, adding to Chelsea’s misery.
After the game, Rosenior talked about how heartbroken the teenager was at the break:
“He was crying at half-time. Really devastated for him. It looks like it’s his hamstring and that’s a moment actually when he’s running through on their goal for a one v one and pulls his hamstring in that moment. They’re good lads, I have to say. They’re honest, they’re working hard. I don’t want them to feel that everything’s against them. And I hope Este comes back sooner rather than later.”
Enzo Fernandez had to leave injured as well, which cut short his return from an internal suspension. In the 88th minute, Romeo Lavia took the place of the Argentine. Rosenior, on the other hand, was cautiously hopeful about the situation:
“I think it was his calf. I feel, I’m hoping it’s cramp, he’s getting work on it right now, because we want him obviously fit for Tuesday.”
Chelsea are now sixth in the Premier League, 10 points behind Manchester United, and they need to finish in the top five with 15 points left to play for.
Estevao’s Breakthrough Season at Chelsea Hangs in the Balance
The hamstring scare is a huge blow to a player who has been one of the few bright spots in Chelsea’s troubled season. The most in-form attacker for Rosenior came from Palmeiras in the summer of 2025. The Blues agreed to pay €34 million, with €23 million in performance-based bonuses, and he has lived up to the price almost from the first whistle.
This year, the left-footed marauder has had an effect that goes far beyond the domestic stage. He has scored goals in the Champions League, including a stunning one against Barcelona, after making a name for himself in the Premier League with a dramatic last-minute winner against Liverpool earlier this season. Estevao’s fearless dribbling and end product have given Chelsea fans something to hold on to in the midst of a larger problem.
The timing of this setback couldn’t be worse, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming up this summer in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Estevao has scored five goals in 11 games for Brazil. He will be very eager to get better quickly for both Chelsea’s push for the top five and Carlo Ancelotti’s plans for the Selecao.