Enzo Maresca Praises Estevao As A Fantastic Player After Chelsea's Victory Over Bayer Leverkusen

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Enzo Maresca praised Chelsea's new signing, Estevao, after his remarkable debut against Bayer Leverkusen. The match ended in a 2-0 victory for Chelsea, with Estevao scoring the first goal just 18 minutes into the game. Joao Pedro sealed the win with a late goal, marking his fourth goal in as many appearances since joining from Brighton.

Maresca's team displayed no signs of fatigue following their Club World Cup success. They dominated Leverkusen, achieving an expected goals (xG) total of 1.83 from 24 shots, while their opponents managed only 0.22 from four attempts. Estevao's performance was particularly noteworthy, as he led in shots, touches in the opposition box, and attempted dribbles.

The Brazilian teenager also matched Marc Cucurella in creating the most chances during the game. Maresca expressed his admiration for Estevao's talent, stating on Channel 5, "He's very, very young. For sure, as I said yesterday, he is going to help the team. He's a fantastic player." Chelsea fans are eager to see more of Estevao's skills on display.

Chelsea will face AC Milan next to conclude their pre-season before starting their Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace on August 17. Despite limited preparation time together, Maresca was satisfied with his team's performance and acknowledged the challenges of managing a large squad.

Maresca addressed the uncertainty surrounding Nicolas Jackson's future at Stamford Bridge and emphasised the importance of squad rotation. He stated that not all players would be happy if they don't play but stressed that they must understand the need for rotations among the 22 to 24 players.

Additionally, Maresca confirmed Chelsea's intention to strengthen their defence following Levi Colwill's anterior cruciate ligament injury. "It's a priority for me," he said. "Levi is a fantastic player. What we achieved last season is because of him also. I love him; I'm going to miss him."

Chelsea's recent performances have shown promise as they prepare for upcoming challenges. With Estevao making an immediate impact and plans to bolster their defence, the team looks set for an exciting season ahead.