When Chelsea last overcame Liverpool, Estevao commanded attention across the Premier League. Now, a year after that breakthrough, his difficulty earning a place under Xabi Alonso is generating a very different conversation.
Only a few months into his Stamford Bridge career, the Brazilian delivered the decisive goal against the reigning league champions last October, scoring with almost the game’s very last touch. Twelve months later, the headlines instead concern his struggle to enter his manager’s plans.
Liverpool cup exit leaves Estevao watching again
Wednesday’s trip to Anfield offered another striking example. The 19-year-old, recruited from Palmeiras the previous summer, remained unused as Chelsea exited the Carabao Cup on penalties against Liverpool. Morgan Rogers had put the visitors ahead before the break, but Cody Gakpo’s swift equaliser prevented them from building on that advantage.
As the sides searched for a decisive second-half goal, Alonso gave no apparent indication that he would turn to Estevao. A three-player change midway through the half underlined the teenager’s position in the selection hierarchy: among those introduced was Emmanuel Emegha, previously without an appearance since arriving from Strasbourg that summer.
Those changes exhausted Chelsea’s allocation of five replacements. Shortly afterwards, Estevao stopped preparing on the touchline and returned to his seat. For the Brazilian, another evening had passed without a single minute on the field.
Alonso promises Estevao an opening despite limited minutes
The events at Anfield reflected an established pattern rather than an isolated disappointment. Since Alonso’s summer appointment, none of Chelsea’s eight Premier League fixtures has included Estevao in the initial line-up. His season’s involvement amounts to just 172 minutes, of which 125 were accumulated in earlier EFL Cup victories against Luton Town and Leeds United.
Even the exhilarating 6-3 defeat of Daniel Farke’s Leeds brought a setback for the youngster. On one of only two occasions when he has started this season, Chelsea removed him at the interval while a goal down at 1-0.
Explaining his choices after the fourth-round elimination, Alonso suggested that adaptation to England’s physical requirements remained a factor. He pointed to Pedro Neto, Morgan Rogers and Danny Welbeck as his starting attacking options and described passages of considerable intensity. A demanding physical contest had been anticipated, he explained, while cramp affecting Malo Gusto had partly dictated the substitutions. Across a lengthy campaign, he expected opportunities for every player.
Addressing Estevao specifically, the coach acknowledged that the forward wanted to participate and was not as happy as he might be. Alonso accepted responsibility for ensuring his chance would arrive and expressed confidence that it would. He also emphasised the need to withstand English football’s intensity, noting that the Brazilian was in his second season and that much of the campaign remained.
Neto’s resurgence and Alonso’s system narrow the route into the team
The performances of Pedro Neto help explain why Estevao has been left out. Only months earlier, the Portuguese international appeared likely to depart, two years after his arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli was mentioned as a destination for the 26-year-old, but he ultimately stayed in west London.
Alonso appears to have helped shape that outcome. His trust has translated into seven starting selections across eight league fixtures. Neto’s effectiveness on the right, also Estevao’s preferred flank, has restricted the younger Brazilian’s openings. Usually operating as the right wing-back within a 3-4-2-1 formation, Neto seemingly appeals to the Spanish coach through his familiarity with the league and stronger defensive reliability relative to Estevao.
Four goals across 11 appearances marked a productive beginning to Neto’s season, followed by a fresh six-year contract. Speaking to Sky Sports, former Reading midfielder Jobi McAnuff argued that the tactical framework had disadvantaged Estevao. He described Neto’s assignment as a blended wing-back role requiring him to advance high upfield, suggesting that Alonso might consider it unsuitable for the Brazilian, an assessment McAnuff shared.
Established attackers keep Estevao waiting even when absences arise
Scoring options have not been a source of difficulty for Chelsea this term. Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers have established themselves in the advanced positions, with Rogers making an outstanding early impression after his £117m transfer from Aston Villa.
Yet even with Palmer serving a suspension and Joao Pedro unavailable through injury against Liverpool, Estevao still found no way onto the pitch. Those absences did not translate into an opportunity for him.
Former Crystal Palace attacker Clinton Morrison expressed bewilderment that the teenager had not appeared that evening. He imagined Estevao wondering what else he needed to do when two leading attacking players were missing and he still could not get involved.
For Estevao, the hope will be to emulate Neto’s turnaround and breathe fresh life into his own career at Stamford Bridge.
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