Estevao Willian has revealed that Chelsea captain Enzo Fernandez handed him the ball for the penalty against Ajax that saw him become the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer in the Champions League.
The Brazilian teenager won a spot-kick deep into first-half injury time at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night when he was felled by Youri Baas, and stepped up confidently to score his second Blues goal in a 5-1 rout against 10 men.
Fernandez had already scored a penalty by the time Chelsea won their second, and he handed the ball to Estevao so the youngster could also get on the scoresheet.
“I’m very happy for this first goal in the Champions League,” Estevao told TNT Sports Brazil after making his first start in European competition.
“I can’t even describe the feeling. I always dreamed of this moment and now it has arrived.
“Enzo Fernandez is a great guy. He gave me the chance to take the penalty. I didn’t expect it because he had scored the first goal, but he looked at me and handed me the ball.
“That shows how united this group is. Everyone helps each other.”
Estevao also revealed how he found out that he had been included in the starting lineup for the group phase visit of Ajax to west London.
“I found out this morning that I’d be starting,” he said. “We had a meeting and I was told I’d play. I usually nap before games, but I couldn’t sleep at all, I was too anxious.”
