Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says Estevao and Lamine Yamal are in all probability going to be the subsequent Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Estevao outshone Yamal within the first assembly between the 2 finest 18-year-olds in world soccer, scoring a surprising aim as Chelsea dominated 10-man Barcelona in a 3-0 win to maneuver into the Champions League prime eight.
Yamal, who got here second on the Ballon d’Or awards, endured a tough night time at Stamford Bridge as his Spain team-mate, Marc Cucurella, shut him out the sport with an enormous defensive efficiency.
Barcelona and Brazil star Raphinha, team-mate to each Yamal and Estevao, stated earlier than the sport that he expects the duo to copy Messi and Ronaldo by preventing for the prize of finest participant on the earth for years to return.
And, chatting with BeIN Sports activities, the Chelsea boss was in full settlement: “As Raphinha stated, in all probability within the subsequent 10, 15 years, Estevao and Lamine Yamal are in all probability going to be the subsequent Messi and Ronaldo.
“However for each, they’re 18. They should take pleasure in, attempt to enhance daily. This a very powerful factor for them.”
Estevao of Chelsea celebrates scoring his crew’s second aim in opposition to Barcelona
Nonetheless, in between that interview and his subsequent press convention the Italian boss had a change of coronary heart.
When prompted whether or not Estevao’s glide previous Pau Cubasi within the build-up to his aim had reminded him of a younger Messi, Maresca replied: “The aim Estevao scored jogged my memory of the one he scored in opposition to us within the Membership World Cup. It is very related, the identical motion.
“He must calm down. He must take pleasure in his soccer, he must play soccer. Him and Lamine [Yamal] are such younger boys at 18, if you happen to begin to discuss Ronaldo and Messi, that is an excessive amount of stress for younger boys like them.
“They should arrive on the coaching floor glad for classes, however once you begin to examine them with these two, it is an excessive amount of for them.”
Estevao: Most particular second in my profession
Estevao’s strike earned him a 3rd aim in as many Champions League video games for Chelsea since his summer season transfer
Estevao says scoring in opposition to Barcelona was the “most particular second” in his younger profession.
The Brazil worldwide left Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi for lifeless earlier than firing into the roof of the web along with his weaker proper foot to place Chelsea 2-0 up on the night time.
With that aim, Estevao turned the third teenager to attain in every of his first three Champions League begins after Kylian Mbappe (18y 113d) and Erling Haaland (19y 107d).
“I do not actually have any phrases to sum up how I’m feeling proper now,” Estevao instructed Amazon Prime. “It actually was the proper night time. I’m simply grateful to God for making all the things occur for me. Onwards and upwards from right here.
Steve Sidwell calls Chelsea’s Champions League win over Barcelona at Stamford Bridge sensational.
“It was all very fast for me [for my goal]. It occurred earlier than I knew it. I simply discovered some area and wiggled my approach via and scored the aim. It was such a particular second for me in my profession and I hope to attain many extra.
“Sure, it was positively essentially the most particular second in my profession. I hope I preserve scoring an increasing number of for a few years.”
Cucurella: Estevao catching up with Yamal rapidly
Chelsea and Spain defender Marc Cucurella – a team-mate to every of those prodigious skills – believes Estevao is behind Yamal, however catching up rapidly to the Barcelona star.
Yamal made his Barcelona debut aged 15 and is already a European champion with Spain and a two-time LaLiga winner along with his membership.
In the meantime, Estevao had not began enjoying in Europe till he moved to Chelsea in the summertime from Palmeiras.
“The primary distinction is that Estevao possibly arrived now to Europe and [he is] possibly just a few years again to Lamine [Yamal]. However he confirmed at this time that he has loads of character and he has good high quality.”
Requested if Estevao is catching up rapidly to Yamal: “Yeah. He is a particular man. We’ve got good folks within the dressing room, so hopefully we may help him.”
