Split image - Alex Scott of AFC Bournemouth and Elliot Anderson of Manchester City
Split image - Alex Scott of AFC Bournemouth and Elliot Anderson of Manchester City
Photo by Alexander Canillas/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Alexander Canillas/MB Media/Getty Images
Jason Cundy discussing Estevao Willian and Bukayo Saka
Photo by Pedro Salado/Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Split image - Chelsea's Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba and Joao Pedro of Chelsea celebrates scoring
Split image - Chelsea's Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba and Joao Pedro of Chelsea celebrates scoring
Winstanley and Stewart for Chelsea
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
It is a stark contrast to the start he made at Chelsea, ever since scoring against the Blues at the Club World Cup with Palmeiras. The goals against Liverpool and Barcelona feel like a bit of a distant memory.
Alonso might not really understand the talent he has on his hands. Carlo Ancelotti has a different stance to Alonso on the Brazilian, who was an 84th-minute substitute during Saturday’s 5-1 win v Bournemouth.
Estevao Willian's minutes
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea posted a short documentary on Estevao on the club’s app this week, and it included comments from Thiago Silva. The Chelsea legend explained how watching his fellow countryman makes him happy.
“I believe this relationship among the Brazilians there helps a lot in this adaptation. Especially for an 18-year-old boy. He has his family, yes, but his family is not at the training ground every day,” Silva said.
“I always follow Chelsea. To be honest, it makes me really happy when I see the fans sing his name as he arrives at the stadium, when he’s warming up; the fans love the kid,” Silva said of the Brazil international.
Chelsea’s 5-1 win over Bournemouth is bad news for Estevao
Saturday’s win over Bournemouth was excellent. But it was also proof to Alonso and his coaching staff that Chelsea are finally adapting to Alonso’s way of playing, and that the 3-4-2-1 system will work.
While this formation is deployed by Alonso, Estevao has little way in. Reports say Estevao is unwilling to add more physicality to his game, which would allow him to compete for a place at right wing-back.
Able to play as a no.10, Estevao is only going to get a chance in those roles if Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers pick up an injury. Barcelona are monitoring the situation with a £111m price tag on his head.
The one positive for Chelsea and, indeed, Estevao himself, is that he remains incredibly young and there is no rush to make a decision. He might face a season warming the bench, but Estevao deserves game time.