It’s often hard to gauge the full picture from the press box at the London Stadium, and we had little inkling as to the turn of events as Cole Palmer limped off during the warm-up.
Matches are often preceded by scribbled notes and last-minute adjustments, but nothing quite prepared us for what unfolded. When the murmurings began to circulate, our minds raced with questions: “How bad is Palmer’s injury?”, “Who will fill his shoes?” It was Estevao Willian who stepped up to replace Chelsea’s talismanic star.
Making his full Premier League debut, the 18-year-old wasn’t a straightforward substitute for Palmer. Instead, he slotted in on the right, with Joao Pedro taking up the No.10 role and Pedro Neto switching to the left flank.
Barely had the game begun before Chelsea faced an uphill battle. Just four minutes in, Lucas Paqueta struck a sublime goal, exacerbating concerns over Palmer’s absence. That said, the players evidently didn’t share our angst.
For their part, Joao Pedro’s acquisition in the summer stirred debate. His promise at Brighton hadn’t catapulted him into conversations as one of the Premier League’s elite forwards, perhaps overshadowed by Brighton’s comparatively lower profile compared to the likes of Chelsea.
Nonetheless, some were optimistic about the £55 million acquisition, plus an added £5 million in possible add-ons. Few could have predicted Joao Pedro’s blazing start for Chelsea, having netted six goals in his first seven appearances, including pre-season outings.
On Friday night, Enzo Maresca opted for Liam Delap as the primary striker, placing Joao Pedro just behind. His versatility across the front line justified Chelsea’s investment, and this versatility was on full display at the London Stadium.
Joao Pedro’s exquisite header levelled the score on six minutes and he proceeded to provide assists for both Neto and Trevoh Chalobah, delivering a compelling performance in East London.
Now consider Estevao’s perspective: mere minutes before kickoff, Maresca signals for your attention. “Prepare yourself, lad, you’re in,” might have been his directive. At just eighteen, making his Premier League debut away in a Chelsea kit is a formidable challenge.
Yet, Estevao demonstrated notable composure. The Brazilian’s inexperience momentarily showed six minutes in, misplacing a pass leading to Paqueta’s long-range finish past Robert Sanchez. Estevao’s lapse was obvious, but Sanchez’s unconventional goalkeeping techniques equally warranted scrutiny.
Post-match, Maresca remarked, “We conceded the goal because of him [Estevao], he lost the ball in the build-up, so he needs to make mistakes to learn. But overall, the performance was very good.” Rather than retreat into his shell, Estevao embraced responsibility, continuing to seek out the ball which his teammates willingly provided, acknowledging his mistake as a one-off.
His involvement in the third goal was nothing short of impressive. Linking expertly with Delap on the right, Estevao surged into the box. Instead of crossing, he took an additional touch to create space and delivered a perfect assist for Enzo Fernandez.
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