A revelation since arriving at Chelsea, Estevao Willian’s flying start has put him on course for greatness at Stamford Bridge.
Estevao is making an argument for signing of the summer with his performances this season.
The 18-year-old has been one of Chelsea’s best players despite playing limited minutes.
Enzo Maresca has been criticised for not starting Estevao, but he’s making enough of an impact that it’s hard to fault the Italian’s decision.
But once Estevao is fully unleashed, he can start working towards a goal that might seem some distance away, but is actually quite achievable.
Estevao can quickly become Chelsea’s greatest-ever right-winger
It may seem like a bizarre statement to make just months into his career at Stamford Bridge, but when you look at the best right-wingers to lace up for the Blues, there isn’t a standout talent that everyone would agree on.
Arjen Robben is the best player all-time on this list, but from a Chelsea perspective, we’re only looking at the three seasons he spent in London.
The Dutchman scored 17 goals and made 18 assists in 86 appearances, winning every available domestic trophy. But his prime would come at Bayern Munich, where he would establish himself as one of the best to play off the right.
Joe Cole was at Chelsea during that same period, operating across the front line but from the right for a good portion of his seven years at the Bridge. He won three titles in that span, scoring 27 goals and making 25 assists, and cementing himself as a Chelsea great. Cole says he never wanted to leave Chelsea, but injuries would cut his time at the club short.
Another Brazilian, Willian, also merits a mention. A more recent Chelsea star, he won everything Robben did, plus a Europa League title. That was across seven seasons, during which time he totted up 113 goal involvements. A real entertainer on the pitch.
Then, you can go further back in history and mention Pat Nevin. He made 193 appearances in the eighties, and was Chelsea’s best player at a time when they were further down the football pyramid. He doesn’t have the same silverware to boast, but he certainly deserves to be in this conversation.
Great players, but no obvious choice for an all-time Chelsea XI. The production of all three is of a level far lower than what is expected of a top Premier League winger these days.
At 18, Estevao is already an output machine, whether it be scoring or assisting. The room for improvement makes for a scary proposition, and it just feels like nothing will stop him from becoming a world-class player.
Carlo Ancelotti made a similar Estevao claim about Brazil, saying he guarantees future success. If he maintains his current trajectory, it feels like a foregone conclusion that he takes that all-time honour.
What could stop Estevao’s ascent
The reason it’s ‘almost’ a guarantee that Estevao becomes Chelsea’s greatest right-winger is two-fold.
Firstly, team success will always influence these conversations, even though they are about the individual. All those players mentioned, bar Nevin, have multiple league titles to their name.
This current Chelsea side looks to be in a strong position for future success, but if Estevao can’t collect a couple of bits of silverware, he might struggle to leap the likes of Cole and Robben.
The other potential issue is the inevitable interest that will come from European giants. Real Madrid are already discussing Estevao after his hot start. He’s quickly making a name for himself as one of football’s brightest young talents — something that never fails to draw attention.
But if Estevao stays at Stamford Bridge, silverware shouldn’t be a problem with how young and talented Maresca’s squad is.
If those boxes are ticked, it’s hard to imagine he doesn’t ascend to the upper echelon of Chelsea greats, and become the undisputed best to do it on the right flank.
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