Enzo Maresca will have some big decisions to make regarding his team selections for the London derby against West Ham on Friday, and Jason Cundy is predicting a full Premier League debut for one new signing.
The Blues did not get the start to the new campaign they were hoping for when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace.
Chelsea struggled in particular in the final third, and perhaps Maresca should have started Liam Delap to try and take on an aggressive opposition back three.
The performance of Cole Palmer also caused some concern, with his dire goalscoring run in the Premier League continuing.
Jason Cundy predicts Estevao Willian will start for Chelsea vs West Ham
Perhaps the most exciting moment for those in attendance at Stamford Bridge was the introduction of Estevao Willian off the bench for his competitive club debut.
Chelsea fans were impressed by Estevao, with some calling for him to become a starter in time for the game against the Hammers.
This has now been echoed by Cundy, who believes he is more ready to start than Jamie Gittens, who began the opener against Palace.
He said: “This boy has come with a big reputation, even though he is so tender in years. Anyone who knows anything about South American football, he is supposedly the next Neymar, whatever that may look like.
“The Premier League is a different animal. He got his first goal against Bayer Leverkusen, he’s established himself now. The Premier League, I feel, has lost it’s ability to have players like him. A bit of a free spirit, take players on.
“He’s built differently this kid, he’s got different ideas. I saw Gittens against AC Milan, and I thought he was a little like an excited puppy. [Lacking] composure, he’s still young. I wonder whether he might get the start on Friday. I thought we saw enough from his cameo role. But what he did do, he lifted the crowd. He’s a brave boy, he’ll take players on.
“I thought Tyrick Mitchell gave him a lot of respect. Didn’t quite get tight enough to him. The buzz around Stamford Bridge when it happened, yeah you could feel it.”
Maresca’s exciting Estevao prediction
Despite Maresca making it clear that he wanted to ease his new young superstar into action at Stamford Bridge, he was the first player he turned to on the bench when things weren’t going to plan against Palace.
The boss was impressed with what he saw from the Brazilian, and Maresca predicted Estevao would become a key player for the club in a similar way to how Palmer has already done.
The fact that he was not loaned out to Strasbourg like Kendry Paez or Mike Penders suggests he is going to play a key role, and the boss can prove this by handing Estevao the start against West Ham.
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