Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has urged fans and the media to focus on his young winger Estevao rather than comparing him to Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal ahead of the Champions League group stage clash on Tuesday.
Estevao, 18, has impressed since joining Chelsea in July, scoring nine goals for club and country. Maresca, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, said the Brazil international is already established at the top level and should focus on improving himself rather than measuring himself against others.
“Estevao is already playing at a high level; he is already in the starting eleven with Brazil. For sure, he is very young; he can do many things better, but we are very happy with him,” Maresca said. “He has just to be better than himself day by day. Try to work hard, improve.”
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The Chelsea manager praised the quality of young talents such as Estevao, Yamal, and Barcelona’s Pedri, noting that their emergence is part of the beauty of football.
Maresca also provided an update on forward Cole Palmer, who is recovering from a toe injury. “Cole is wearing a protective boot. He’s already on the pitch, he’s already touching the ball, and the feeling is good. We don’t know when he will be back, but for sure it will be soon,” he said.
Chelsea and Barcelona are currently level on seven points each in the Champions League group stage after four matches, with the English club hoping to secure a critical win at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca added that his managerial philosophy has been shaped by Pep Guardiola’s possession-based style at Barcelona, emphasizing the importance of playing attractive, disciplined football. “I decided to be a manager because of Pep’s team, Barcelona, years ago. Now, any club can decide the way they want to play. I chose mine years ago, and this will be the way I like to watch my team in football and also in the future,” he said.