Cole Palmer’s first red card of his career left a mark on the weekend for Chelsea but could finally open a door that has been firmly shut since August. With Palmer serving a one-match ban after his red card in the EFL Cup fourth-round fixture against Liverpool on Wednesday, Xabi Alonso will miss his number 10 at Anfield. But I think Estevao could fill the role perfectly.
After scoring a last-minute winner against Liverpool just over a year ago, Estevao had an impressive debut season with 8 goals and 4 assists. However, the 19-year-old has only played 47 minutes of Premier League action this season, with his only starts coming in the EFL Cup. From being the hype of Palmeiras to the fringes of Alonso’s tactics board, our brightest young talent has fallen out of favour.
This is purely to argue that Estevao should start, not that he will go rampant against Liverpool. No one can guarantee that, least of all a Chelsea fan who likes to make bold predictions.
Why Estevao Is Falling Down The Pecking Order
The first thing to note is Estevao suffered a grade-four hamstring tear against Manchester United on April 18th, meaning he missed out on the World Cup and the rest of the season. However, he decided not to have surgery and made a remarkable recovery, returning in pre-season looking sharp.
Unfortunately, Alonso had settled on his front three with Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers (summer signing). Estevao only featured for 23 minutes in the first 5 league games, all as a sub. He was an unused substitute against Brighton, played 3 minutes against Brentford and came on in the 86th minute against Hull.
In the cups, his story has been mixed. He was voted Player of the Match by fans against Luton but was replaced at half-time against Leeds as we were losing. In the league, he was also left out of the starting XI against Tottenham, with Joao Pedro injured and Geovany Quenda starting instead. He came on for Quenda in the 72nd minute.
Despite this, Estevao has not publicly blamed his manager. He said he focuses on what he can control and gives his best in training every day. However, reports from Spain and Brazil have suggested there is some tension. They claim there is uncertainty over Estevao’s role, with him feeling he should play centrally, where Palmer plays. However, club sources insist the relationship between Estevao and Alonso has not broken down.
Alonso has also given some assurances. Before facing Bournemouth, he said Estevao was feeling better after his injury and promised the youngster would get “more minutes.” However, Alonso also admitted that players on the bench will be disappointed when they don’t play for a few games.
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has urged Alonso to give Estevao more minutes. He has warned that Estevao could push for a move if that doesn’t happen. It’s great to promise moments, but they need to actually happen.
What Estevao Can Do
If you haven’t seen much of Estevao, he is a left-footed attacking player who mainly plays on the right. He has a low centre of gravity, incredibly quick start-stop dribbling, and good vision to play through tight midfield lines. Last season, the Premier League’s analysis showed he was the top player at Chelsea for attempted dribbles.
What makes him dangerous is that he can play in multiple ways. He can cut inside onto his left foot, beat defenders on the outside or play through passes to teammates. Last season, he scored a solo goal against Barcelona, showing his confidence and ability to embarrass top defenders.
However, he does have his flaws. Partial stats from last season show he won only about a third of his duels and very few aerial duels. Enzo Maresca also emphasised that he needs to work harder off the ball. Reports suggest he does not want to keep bulking up for a wing-back role, and that decision doesn’t help him fit into Alonso’s system.
Why Anfield?
Against Tottenham, Chelsea played a 3-4-2-1, with Palmer and Quenda playing behind Rogers. Palmer plays in the right attacking half-space role, which is what Estevao reportedly sees as his future. With Palmer suspended, Alonso can naturally try this out in a competitive game with little risk to our league plans.
It also makes sense as we play Manchester United 3 days later. We will be rotating anyway, so starting Estevao gives Palmer’s understudy a true audition without affecting our league plans. It would be a waste to sit and watch another gifted teenager warming up.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have been keeping a close eye on his situation since he was at Palmeiras. If he has a big night on a big stage like Anfield, it will help answer the debate before the window.
No Guarantee But…
This doesn’t guarantee Estevao will run riot against Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool. He could struggle, lose duels or just not cope with the intensity of Anfield. But this will give Alonso much clearer answers than another 3-minute cameo.
While I have insisted in the past that Estevao can be patient, we cannot afford to leave one of our most talented players in limbo. Alonso has trusted Quenda, Penders, and even a 36-year-old Jordan Henderson this season. It makes sense to trust the teenager who has already scored important goals against Liverpool and Barcelona.
The Blues head to Anfield on Wednesday and then host Manchester United on Saturday. If Alonso wants to know what Estevao can bring in Palmer’s role, he couldn’t ask for a better opportunity.
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