Maresca credits Estêvão’s spark for Chelsea win
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca credited teenage forward Estêvão for sparking his side’s second-half revival in a 3–0 Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, a result that lifted the Blues to second in the table.
Chelsea were jeered off at halftime after failing to capitalize on their dominance against the league’s bottom side, but the mood shifted dramatically after the interval. Malo Gusto opened the scoring with a header six minutes into the second half before Estêvão, introduced shortly after, immediately assisted João Pedro for the second goal. Pedro Neto added a third from Alejandro Garnacho’s cross to seal the win.
“I was very worried before this game,” Maresca told reporters. “These are the most difficult matches — everyone assumes it will be easy. In the first half, the fans were frustrated, but when Estêvão came on, the energy completely changed. People love that kind of player.”
The 18-year-old Brazilian, who joined Chelsea from Palmeiras during the summer, has mostly featured as a substitute while adapting to English football and life in London. Maresca revealed earlier this week that the winger has been adjusting to both the physicality of the league and the colder climate.
“You can see his talent,” Maresca added. “He’s still adapting, and we’re trying to give him the right minutes. He’s going to start games for us in the future.”
Estêvão’s cameo continued a promising start to his Premier League career, with his flair and creativity drawing excitement from supporters. His contribution also highlighted Chelsea’s growing attacking depth, as the club now leads the division in goals scored (21) after 11 matches.
Another standout was Garnacho, who provided two assists and has steadily improved since joining from Manchester United in the summer. “When he arrived, his physical condition wasn’t perfect,” Maresca said. “Now he understands that to play with us, he needs to work both on and off the ball. We’re very happy with him.”
Wolves caretaker manager James Collins, overseeing what is likely his only match in charge amid reports linking Rob Edwards to the job, focused on his team’s resilience despite their precarious position. “The boys are working hard and staying together,” Collins said. “There’s a lot of football left to play, and our season won’t be defined by Chelsea away.”
The result reinforced Chelsea’s strong start under Maresca, with the team showing increasing cohesion and attacking fluidity. For Estêvão, it was another step in his steady rise — a glimpse of the Brazilian’s potential to become a key figure in the club’s long-term rebuild.