Estão, Chelsea’s “Messi”: Maresca asks for calm regarding comparisons

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has warned against comparing the team’s young prodigy, Estêvão, to legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, arguing that this could put “too much pressure” on the footballer. Estêvão shone in Chelsea’s victory over Barcelona, scoring a spectacular goal in the 3-0 triumph at Stamford Bridge. The match was marked by an own goal from Jules Koundé and the expulsion of Ronald Araújo, leaving Barcelona with one man less and at a disadvantage on the scoreboard.

• Estêvão has led Chelsea to look like a team worthy of the title of “world champions”.

In the second half, Estêvão received a pass from Reece James and, after getting past Pau Cubarsí and Araujo, sent a powerful shot that went into the net. This goal made Estêvão the third teenager in Champions League history to score in his first three appearances, following in the footsteps of Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.

The goal generated comparisons to Messi in his prime, but Maresca preferred to distance himself from these comparisons, believing that both Estêvão and Lamine Yamal, 18, need space to develop. “Estêvão needs to relax. He needs to enjoy, he needs training sessions. He needs to play football. He, Lamine, are very young, 18 years old, and if you start talking about Messi, [Cristiano] Ronaldo, I think it’s too much pressure for young guys like them. They need to enjoy, get to the training ground, happy, train.” Estêvão has scored five goals for Chelsea since his arrival in the summer, but Tuesday’s could be the most special.

“I really don’t have words to sum up how I feel,” he said. “It all happened so fast for me. I found some space and made my way through. I hope to keep scoring for many more years.”

Estêvão

Added: “It really was the perfect night. [My goal] was such a special moment for me in my career. From the moment I arrived here, I felt a connection with the fans. I am very happy to have been able to score for them and make them happy.” Liam Delap closed the scoring with a goal, while Chelsea rose to fifth place in the table and Barcelona fell to 15th place. The next challenge for Chelsea will be against Arsenal, leader of the Premier League, at home on Sunday, where they could reduce the gap to just three points. Maresca commented: “The feeling was very good because it was at home with our fans”. “It’s always nice to share these kinds of moments. But now, I told the players, in the next 48 hours, disconnect completely, rest, recover energy, because on Sunday we have Arsenal.” “But my message after the match was just to recover energy, which is the most important thing at the moment. And then, starting Friday, we start thinking about Arsenal.”