Ahead of chelseameeting with barcelona In uefa champions leaguePrematch comparison between teen events estevao willian And Lamin Yamal Felt premature. They are no more.
Chelsea’s 3-0 win on Tuesday was the night 18-year-old Estevao announced himself on the world stage with a wonder goal that put his fellow young winger firmly in the crosshairs.
Of course, 18-year-old Yamal won’t be too concerned about the dust settling. He is a European Championship winner spainTwo-time LaLiga champion and Ballon d’Or runner-up. The world is at his feet and will sit there for a decade or more if he wants.
Likewise, the bloated nature of this Champions League group stage means Barcelona’s 15th place in the table is no disaster given that there are three match weeks ahead, including eminently winnable games against them. bayer leverkusenCopenhagen and slavia prague,
But it is the kind of occasion that inspires Estevao and Chelsea to negotiate at the highest level of the game, allowing a fan who has seen an unprecedented turnaround at his club since winning the Champions League in 2021 to believe that his team is on its way to competing at a professional level again.
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The ceiling for what Estevao can achieve in the game continues to expand. It may not even exist. Those who came expecting Yamal to define another game with his brilliant talent were left for a moment to marvel at the era the winger provided with the opposite team in the opposite direction.
Already a goal and a man ahead Jules CondeRidiculous suicide goal in the 27th minute and ronald araujoAfter being dismissed in the 44th minute, Chelsea turned the ball over quickly reece james Fed Estevao.
The 18-year-old still had a lot to do, but he hit the ground running pau cubarsi Turn back onto your left foot and then onto your right foot alejandro balde Before firing a shot high past the net john garcia,
Television cameras immediately – and inevitably – asked Yamal for his reaction. He tried to disrespect. Estevao was busy celebrating in the far corner of Stamford Bridge, while Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was almost in disbelief at the direction of his coaching staff.
Later it was put to Maresca that it was the goal. Lionel Messi-like.
“No, Estevao’s goal reminded me of the goal he scored against us in the Club World Cup, which is exactly the same, same action,” Maresca said, referring to the goal Estevao scored in the quarterfinals of the tournament last summer, when he played for Palmeiras. By then, Chelsea had already announced that the Brazilian would be joining Premier League After the Club World Cup, before the new season.
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What makes Estevao a special player for Chelsea?
Stewart Robson and Craig Burley discuss Estevao’s performance versus Barcelona and his contribution to Chelsea’s attack.
“Estevao needs to relax. He needs to enjoy, he needs [training] Session. He needs to play football,” Maresca added. “He, Lamine, they are so young, 18 years old, that if you start talking about Messi, [Cristiano] Ronaldo, I think it’s too much pressure for young boys like him. They need to enjoy themselves, get to the training ground, be happy, have a session. When you start comparing with Messi or Ronaldo, I think it’s too much for them.”
Estévão became only the third player to score in his first three Champions League matches. the other two? kilian mbappe And erling hollandThis is the company Estevao is starting to keep,
His five goals for Chelsea this season are equal to the combined goals of all other Premier League players aged 18 or under.
Chelsea kept their spirits up throughout against Barcelona on Tuesday. When three disallowed goals became almost four Enzo FernandezThe square pass was converted by substitution. Liam Delap But this time the VAR review came in his favor. Delap’s first Champions League goal – and only his second in 14 games since a £30million summer transfer from Ipswich Town – was another welcome boost.
Fernandez was excellent all night, as was mark cucurellaBarcelona regret a terrible mistake ferran torres That resulted in a clean sweep with just six minutes left, but was second best to last season’s semi-finalist Araujo, leaving them with a mountain to climb. Coincidentally, Barcelona was the first team in 14 years to score an own goal and send a man off the field in a Champions League game, and only the third team in history to score an own goal in a Champions League game.
Chelsea was unique. It wasn’t bad for a team once called “Cole Palmer FC” – they were that reliable. England The playwright injected creativity into what many felt was Maresca’s otherwise uninspired style.
This is a threat to change. The “world champion” tag has felt hollow given the flawed format of FIFA’s Club World Cup, but more nights like this will only add to the feeling that Chelsea are becoming the real deal.
as before Manchester United Striker Wayne Rooney said: “We haven’t even mentioned it cole palmer tonight. Chelsea played very well.”
Chelsea’s tendency has been to protect Estevao and that should continue. But it will become difficult. It was only his ninth start in all competitions, but the Premier League leaders were tempted to leave him out again on Sunday armory There will be immense visitors. So, will it be difficult to protect him?
“No, honestly, because if he doesn’t play, pedro neto Plays wide in his position,” Maresca said. “And pedro Is good. We are happy with Pedro. It depends on the game plan. Tonight we decide to play Estevao in the toughest game of the season. I am not a manager who will allow a player not to play minutes. This is just the game plan. The game plan defines the first 11. Next up is Arsenal. Estevao, when the game plan is for him, he’s going to play. And of course he will play many matches because he is very good.”
Yamal was substituted with 11 minutes remaining. He left the pitch shaking his head, exchanging a cursory clap of hands with Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and enduring another chorus of “You’re just a s— Estévão” from the Chelsea fans as he slumped dejectedly onto the bench.
There are many bright days ahead for Yamal – this has long been considered inevitable. But now that increasingly seems to be the case for Chelsea and Estevao, who walked off the field to a standing ovation moments later.
High-fives followed his teammates down the sidelines, before he reached back to shake hands with a man dressed in black in the back row. It was Palmer. Imagine what they might be able to do together.
