Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has hailed Estevao Willian after the 19-year-old’s first Premier League start of the season in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
The Brazilian had two goals ruled out for offside, in the 15th minute and again in the 71st, and was applauded off when he made way for Malo Gusto in the 87th. Before Saturday, his season had amounted to 47 Premier League minutes across six substitute appearances, plus two Carabao Cup starts. Senne Lammens also denied him twice late on, the second a full-length stop, and the ovation still came.
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Morgan Rogers broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart, carrying the ball from midfield, going past Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez and clipping a finish over Lammens. Cole Palmer made it two from the spot just after the hour, after Martinez was shown a second yellow card for an arm to Wesley Fofana’s face following a VAR review.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the final whistle, Alonso said (via Chelsea Chronicle):
“Estevao did really well. I am happy for him. He deserved this chance and the opportunity to give back.”
Asked about the Chelsea winger again in his post-match press conference, he went further (via NBC Sports):
“Really, really happy for him. He deserved this moment to connect the good feeling on the pitch with the crowd. He was tired at the end but he deserved the ovation. It’s the best way to respond to a coach when you’re not playing that much.”
Alonso had spent the week answering questions about Estevao’s minutes, including the decision to leave him on the bench for the Carabao Cup exit at Liverpool on Wednesday.
Chelsea’s form this season, and the games ahead
Victory lifts Chelsea to fourth on 16 points from nine games, level with third-placed Brighton, who were yet to kick off at Manchester City. It also stopped a slide of two defeats: the 2-0 home loss to Tottenham and the Carabao Cup exit at Anfield.
Alonso’s side have scored 19 goals in nine league games but conceded 15. Consistency has been the issue: the 5-1 win over Bournemouth and the 2-0 at Everton were followed by the Tottenham setback.
With no European football this season and the cups gone until January, the league is the only place Estevao and the rest can build rhythm. Sunderland away on Sunday, November 8 comes first, then Leeds at home on November 21, Nottingham Forest away on November 27, Crystal Palace at home on December 2, and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on December 5.
Edited by Vignesh Raja
