Enzo Maresca has hailed Chelsea’s teenage phenomenon Estevao Willian as a “special player” but says he must understand that he cannot play every game.
Estevao shone, scoring his first Champions League goal from the penalty spot, as the Blues demolished 10-man Ajax 5-1 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
The 18-year-old has quickly endeared himself to the Chelsea faithful with a number of eye-catching displays this season and netted the crucial late winner against Liverpool before the international break.
Maresca was full of praise for the young Brazilian in his pre-Sunderland press conference on Friday, but said that he, like the rest of Chelsea’s young squad, would have to be patient for opportunities.
“It's with Estevao, but it's almost with all of them, it doesn't matter about the age,” he said. “If you say to Tosin [Adarabioyo], the oldest one, that he's not going to play, he's not happy. It's not about the age but they need to understand they can't play every game.
“Balance for me is quite easy. We have 24 or 25 players, good players, but only 11 can start. Since I joined the club, I have shown that we change players. When they don't play, they are not happy but they also know they can't play every game.”
Estevao’s transition to life at Chelsea has been seamless, and Maresca credits his side’s Brazilian contingent for helping their countryman settle in England following his arrival from Palmeiras in the summer.
“We have Andrey Santos and Joao Pedro that are helping him a lot,” Maresca said. “They already knew him from a different time.
“Us as a staff, as a club, we are trying to help him and give him all the attention he needs. Not just with Estevao, but all the players that come from abroad.
“He is a special player. He just thinks about football and he is happy.”
Chelsea made it four successive wins across all competitions with victory over Ajax, and Maresca called it a “special night” as the Blues became the first side to see three different teenagers score in a single Champions League game.
“I said after the game that it was a special night for the club, for the fans, with so many young players,” Maresca said. “They are talented players.
“The main thing for me is to help them day by day get better and better. If you are able to improve players, you can improve the team.
“Again, try to help them understand the way we want them to play and also we have coaching staff with all of them after the session. We dedicate time to them to try and improve.
“They are young and they need to improve. For sure, if you want to improve.”
