Estevao has made just two starts across all competitions this season, a stark contrast to a year ago when the young Brazilian was the talk of the Premier League. Back then, barely a couple of months into his time at Stamford Bridge, he scored the winner against the then-Premier League champions Liverpool with practically the final kick of the match last October. Fast forward 12 months, and Estevao is attracting attention for all the wrong reasons, as he struggles to get onto the field for Xabi Alonso’s side.
Benched as Chelsea Gets Booted
The 19-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Palmeiras last summer, was noticeably absent on Wednesday night as the Blues crashed out of the Carabao Cup. They lost to Liverpool in a penalty shootout at Anfield, a brutal way to go. Chelsea had actually grabbed the lead in the first half thanks to Morgan Rogers, but they just could not build on it after Cody Gakpo quickly leveled things for the Reds. What’s really telling for Estevao is that as both teams pushed for a winner in the second half, Alonso never seemed to even consider the forward. The clearest sign of just how far down the pecking order Estevao has fallen came midway through that second half. Alonso made a triple substitution to try and turn the game around. One of those three changes was Emanuel Emegha, a guy who hadn’t even played for Chelsea since his summer move from Strasbourg. Moments after that triple change, which took Chelsea’s total substitutions to five, Estevao was seen wrapping up his warm-up and heading back to the bench. Another night, no action for the Brazilian.
This situation on Wednesday night was unfortunately nothing new for Estevao. He has not made the starting XI in any of the eight Premier League matches since Alonso took over in the summer. His total minutes for the entire campaign so far sit at a measly 172. A solid 125 of those came in the earlier rounds of the EFL Cup during wins against Luton Town and Leeds United. Even in that thrilling 6-3 victory over Daniel Farke’s Leeds side, which is one of only two games he’s started all season, he was yanked at half-time with Chelsea actually trailing 1-0.
Alonso’s Stark Reality Check and Neto’s Resurgence
After the Carabao Cup defeat, Alonso defended his decision to keep Estevao sidelined, hinting that the forward is still grappling with the brutal physical demands of English football. “We started with Pedro [Neto], Morgan [Rogers] and Danny Welbeck, and the game had very intense moments,” Alonso said. “We knew it was going to be physical, and Malo [Gusto] had cramps, so we were a bit forced with substitutions. The season is going to be very long, and there will be moments for everyone.”
When asked directly about Estevao, Alonso didn’t pull any punches, stating: “He could be happier. He wants to play. I’m sure Estevao will have his moment, it is my responsibility. We know the game in England is really intense, and you need to be up for it. Estevao is in his second season. The season is going to be long.”
One of the biggest reasons behind Estevao’s disappearance from the lineup has been the absolutely scorching form of Pedro Neto. Just a couple of months ago, it looked like the Portugal international Neto was on his way out of Chelsea, only two years after arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers. He was linked with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, but he ultimately stayed at Stamford Bridge. That decision clearly paid off, as it seems Alonso pushed to keep him. The coach has certainly shown his faith in Neto, handing him seven starts in eight Premier League matches. Neto has been a force, even scoring both goals in Chelsea’s recent 2-0 win over Everton this month. With players like Neto stepping up and Alonso demanding intense physicality, Estevao needs to prove he is “up for it” to earn his moment, as his manager promises. The season is indeed long, but the clock is ticking for the young Brazilian.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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