Estêvão Follows Orders and Gives Penalty to Paquetá in Brazil Draw
Chelsea winger Estêvão revealed that he followed instructions and allowed teammate Lucas Paquetá to take Brazil’s second penalty in the 1-1 friendly draw against Tunisia. Estêvão, 18 years old, had scored a penalty in the 44th minute of the match in Lille, France, equalizing the score 1-1.When Brazil was awarded another penalty in the 77th minute, coach Carlo Ancelotti chose Paquetá, who had come on as a substitute, instead of Estêvão, to take it. However, the West Ham player missed his attempt, sending the ball over the crossbar.
“It was an order that arrived,” declared Estêvão.
Estêvão“I really wanted to take the penalty, but the order came. I supported my teammate so he could score the goal. Unfortunately, he missed, but with our heads held high, we have to train, improve because in a World Cup we have to take advantage of these opportunities.” Ancelotti explained his decision:Paquetá apologized for missing the penalty:“For the second penalty, I changed the shooter because I wanted to take some pressure off Estêvão, so I put Paquetá, who usually takes them very well,” said Ancelotti after the match.
Carlo Ancelotti“I will try to put myself in those circumstances to improve in that sense, to convert in the next opportunity and help the team.” Although Brazil closed the year without victories, Estêvão focused on the positive aspects. Estêvão joined Chelsea from Palmeiras for £29 million ($38.6 million) in the summer and quickly adapted to life in the Premier League. He has scored five goals in 11 appearances for Brazil. “It’s been a very special year,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve had many ups and downs, but I was able to handle everything that happened. Being here with the national team means that the work has been done well at the club and at home, so I am very happy to represent the national team.” “Obviously, we always come here to help, and I’m very happy about that.”“I apologize for the missed penalty,” he said. “I am sad. We probably would have won with that penalty. I am very used to scoring at my club, I have great successes. Unfortunately, my anxiety about scoring made me make a decision before the final touch, so I think that’s what prevented me from taking the penalty as I usually do and I ended up not converting it.
Lucas Paquetá
