Why 'special talent' Estevao can be unifying force at Chelsea

Brazilian gives hope at a time when fans need something to get behind

Estevao starred as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 3-1 on Saturday

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Selhurst Park has become used to playing host to fearless young wingers lifting the crowd down the years, and Estevao became just the latest as he inspired Chelsea to victory there.

The fact he was doing so for the visiting team went a long way to explaining how Crystal Palace lost on Sunday , but for the travelling Chelsea supporters in the Arthur Wait Stand his unflappable performance was a joy to behold.

Estevao was Chelsea’s standout performer, netting their sensational first goal and assisting their slick second in a 3-1 win that had fans cheering Liam Rosenior’s name by the end and felt a big moment in the new head coach’s search for rapport with the fanbase.

Against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, Estevao had been a bright spark, but in truth it had been a while since his last telling moment of stellar quality in a Chelsea shirt.

Not since his stunning finish in November’s Champions League thrashing of Barcelona had it been all about Chelsea's Brazilian teenage superstar, in part because he is still protected in terms of game time.

Estevao gave Chelsea the lead with a sensational goal against Crystal Palace

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But at Selhurst Park, it all clicked at once. Estevao showed such nous when he held off Tyrick Mitchell as the last man and braced himself to drive away in case Jaydee Canvot produced an overzealous back-pass that set him free. His alertness was rewarded as, sure enough, Canvot did, and Estevao tore away into open space, outpacing Mitchell all the way and then lashing through Dean Henderson for a fine opener.

Estevao had other chances too - firing wide with one and forcing a Henderson save from the other - but had another decisive moment to come, as his looping ball into open space allowed Joao Pedro to chase, completing a smooth one-two. The striker cut in off the right and doubled Chelsea’s lead, Estevao’s assist taking him to nine goal contributions in his breakout season.

Chelsea fans have shared Cole Palmer’s frustration during an irritatingly stop-start season for the Englishman. Many supporters feel there are positions still in need of strengthening in the market and plenty are disillusioned with how the owners are running the club. Yet the rise and rise of Estevao is the great unifying force, a provider of great hope.

Estevao now has nine goal contributions this season

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“He is a player with special abilities, a special talent,” Rosenior said of Estevao, who, at 18 years and 276 days, became the second-youngest player to ever score and assist in a single Premier League game for Chelsea .

Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos have helped teach their fellow Brazilian how to speak English and helped him settle in England, as have Estevao’s own family, some of whom live with him in London. On the pitch, that bedding in period was an almost immediate process, so rare is his prodigious talent for his age.

“He's been ill,” Rosenior said, “but every time he's been on the pitch so far with me, he's been outstanding. I’m so happy with him.”

Happy, inevitably, but also eager not to overload such a promising player at the very start of his burgeoning career, just like Enzo Maresca was before him and the club are in general.

“With an 18-year-old with talent like his, you have to manage his minutes,” Rosenior explained. “You have to manage the games that you think are the right moments for him to have an impact. I’ll keep doing that, because I want him to have an outstanding season - but I want him to have an outstanding career as well.”