Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has downplayed comparisons between teenage wingers Estevao and Lamine Yamal ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League showdown with Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.
Champions League football returns to west London as Chelsea host Barcelona in a crucial league-phase fixture.
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Estevao has impressed since joining Chelsea in July, scoring nine goals for club and country. Maresca was asked in his pre-match press conference whether Barcelona star Yamal, just three months younger, should be viewed as a role model for the Brazilian.
But Maresca insisted Estevão is already performing at an elite level despite his youth.
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“Estevao is already playing at a high level. He’s already in the starting XI with Brazil,” Maresca told reporters. “Of course, he’s very young and can improve many things, but we’re very happy with him. It’s great for people who love football to watch players like Estevao, Lamine Yamal, and Pedri. That’s the beauty of football.”
He added that Estevao must stay focused on his own development.
“He will be an important player for this club, no doubt. He just has to be happy, work hard, improve and not think about being better than this player or that player. He just needs to be better than himself, day by day.”
Maresca also provided an update on Cole Palmer, who is recovering from a toe injury.
“Cole is wearing a protective boot. We don’t know exactly when he’ll be back, but it should be soon.
He’s already on the pitch and touching the ball. The feeling is good,” he said, though confirming Palmer is unlikely to face Barcelona or Arsenal.
Barcelona sit 11th in the Champions League league phase with seven points from four matches, the same as Chelsea.
