Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has revealed his plans for rising star Estevao Willian ahead of their upcoming match against Bournemouth. Speaking on the topic at his pre-match press conference, the Spanish tactician spoke about the concerns of the Blues fans regarding the teenager not getting enough playing time at West London.
Despite recently playing for the Brazil squad, the talented youngster is being integrated slowly by choice. Expectations are sky-high at Stamford Bridge after the club signed him from the South American side for a substantial fee.
However, the experienced Spanish tactician is determined to protect the teenager’s physical well-being. Speaking about Estevao’s trajectory, Alonso said:
“It’s still early, just a few games since we started and Este, he’s feeling much better from the injury. We have seen in Brazil that he has played more, the context is different, what he has played with the national team to the Premier League. But we know the demand of the Premier League and we know Este, how important he can be in some games and he will have his moments and more minutes.”
Xabi Alonso Welcomes Key Personnel Returns Ahead of Vital Bournemouth Encounter
Beyond Estevao, Alonso also gave fans an update on a few other players ahead of the clash with Bournemouth. Their recent international break has allowed the Blues to assess their options as they prepare for the toughest part of their league campaign.
The Spanish manager revealed that the Blues have been significantly boosted by the return to full training of Moises Caicedo, following his recent physical problems. In addition, Alonso praised the positive developments in Josh Acheampong’s game after his exploits at the U-21 level.
The young defender has been given the chance to prove himself to the first team after showing his defensive abilities in two England games. The experienced head coach believes that the energetic academy graduate has the potential to play a major role for the club this season.
Alonso is eager to get his team to deliver a special performance in front of their fans at Stamford Bridge. After carefully analysing their preparations during the international break, the Spanish tactician knows the contest against Bournemouth will be extremely testing. However, with several key players returning to the fold, Alonso is ready to face the visitors in the upcoming encounter.