Chelsea's Young Star Delivers on the Big Stage
Chelsea's rising star, Estevao, delivered a performance to remember as the Blues secured a resounding 3-0 victory against Barcelona in the Champions League. The 18-year-old Brazilian wonderkid found the back of the net in a dominant display that left the home supporters at Stamford Bridge in a state of euphoria on Monday night.
A Perfect Night for the Blues
The match saw Chelsea take control early on. The opening goal came from a Jules Kounde own goal, putting the London club in the driving seat. Estevao then doubled the lead with a superb individual effort, weaving through the Barcelona defence before slotting the ball home. The victory was sealed by Liam Delap, who netted the third to cap off a perfect evening for Enzo Maresca's side.
Speaking to Amazon Prime after the final whistle, an elated Estevao struggled to contain his emotions. "I don't really have any words to sum up how I'm feeling right now," he said. "It really was the perfect night. I'm just grateful to God for everything that has happened for me. Onwards and upwards from here."
Fans Chant for Their New Hero
The atmosphere at the Bridge was electric, with Chelsea fans making their feelings abundantly clear. In a direct comparison with Barcelona's own prodigy, Lamine Yamal, the home supporters broke into X-rated chants in favour of their new hero, singing: 'You're just a s*** Estevao.'
Estevao, who has quickly become a fan favourite, was full of praise for the supporters who have embraced him since his arrival. "From the moment I arrived here, I felt such a connection with the fans," he revealed. "I'm just so happy that I could score for them and make them happy. I hope to keep making them happy and score more goals for them."
Reflecting on his crucial goal, the teenager described the moment as instinctive. "It all happened very quickly for me, it sort of happened before I knew it," he explained. "I just found some space, wiggled my way through and then scored that goal. It was such a special moment for me in my career. I hope to score many more. It was definitely the best moment of my career so far."
Maresca's Cautious Approach Pays Off
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who has carefully managed Estevao's integration into the first team, was pleased with the result but remained typically measured. "It is a good win. To be honest, it was no more than that," Maresca stated. "We knew how important this game was, but they are all important games. When you beat Barcelona, it is always nice so we are happy today."
When pressed on whether his young star would start in the upcoming crucial Premier League match against Arsenal, the manager gave nothing away, simply responding, "We'll see." He also contextualised the victory within their European campaign, adding, "We dropped points at Qarabag away, then we won against Benfica and Ajax, then we lost the last one against Bayern Munich. That shows all of these games are complicated."
The win provides a massive boost for Chelsea in the Champions League, sending a strong statement to their rivals and highlighting the emergence of a potential global superstar in Estevao.
