Estevao Willian and Geovany Quenda
Estevao Willian and Geovany Quenda have both been fringe players under Xabi Alonso this season(Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)
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Despite being limited to snippets of first-team action thus far, Geovany Quenda is mindful of the situation he finds himself in at Chelsea.
It is still very early days in terms of the 19-year-old winger's tenure at Stamford Bridge after arriving in the summer transfer window from Sporting CP. The Blues paid the Portuguese club around £40million for Quenda's signature but at the time of writing, he has only been on the pitch twice for his new club.
In those two appearances, Quenda has recorded just 27 minutes (not including added time) of action. Yet the Portuguese wide man understands the situation he is in at the moment; being a teenager, moving to a brand-new country and league. He is prepared to be patient for his opportunity to present itself, according to sources close to the player.
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Quenda played his most minutes to date in a Chelsea shirt last time out, where the former Sporting man came on with just shy of 20 minutes of normal time remaining in the 3-0 defeat against Brentford.
Sources close to Quenda say the winger remains calm and patient and that is because there is a confidence more regular first-team minutes will eventually come this season.
That is very much the message Quenda is relaying to the public as well.
Speaking to O Jogo, via Sports Witness, Quenda was asked about his lack of game time at Stamford Bridge. He said: "About what I don't control, I can't do anything. They're the manager's decisions. I just have to keep giving my best."
Geovany Quenda in action for Chelsea against Brentford
Geovany Quenda has featured just twice for Chelsea since signing for the club in the summer(Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)
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Quenda is currently on international duty for Portugal Under-21s, who face Czech Republic on Tuesday evening in a qualifier for Euro 2027, although the Portuguese have already booked their place in next year's tournament. After tonight's match, Quenda will return to Cobham and work with Xabi Alonso and his staff ahead of Saturday afternoon's clash with Bournemouth.
Estevao Willian finds himself in a similar position to Quenda at this early stage of the season. The 19-year-old Brazilian has 23 minutes to his name in the Premier League so far this term, and reports from his homeland claimed recently he is growing frustrated with his lack of involvement under Alonso.
However, Alonso quickly rubbished such speculation and said that Estevao still has a significant role to play at Stamford Bridge in the remainder of the campaign.
Estevao Willian celebrates
Estevao Willian is yet to start a Premier League game under Xabi Alonso(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
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"[We've had] private conversations, they should remain private," said the Chelsea manager on Estevao last month. "But the season is going to be long and the players that have the desire and the hunger to prove and to show every day that they are up for the challenge, it's what we want to create here in the building.
"Este is part of it. So he has had a very good attitude, very good mentality to prepare every game and to be ready for the team."
Alonso's comments, specifically about wanting hungry and determined players who want to prove themselves, also apply to Quenda. Equally, Quenda and Estevao will be hoping for a bigger platform to prove themselves as we approach the second chunk of the 2026/27 season.