Three things we learned from Chelsea FC win as Willian Estevao cements fan favourite status

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Three things we learned from Chelsea win as Willian Estevao cements fan favourite status

Brazilian starlet took next to no time to make his mark

Super sub: Willian Estevao

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Dom Smith

2 minutes ago

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Chelsea overcame Wolves 3-0 ten days after prevailing in that 4-3 Carabao Cup humdinger — but in very different circumstances.

Perhaps that was to be expected given Wolves sacked head coach Vitor Pereira in that time and arrived at Stamford Bridge managed by their under-21s’ head coach James Collins. Whatever the reasons, Chelsea faced a totally different challenge the second time round.

They were 3-0 up and cruising at half-time in that cup game, before letting that lead slip and making things difficult for themselves. This time, a lukewarm start, goalless at the break, and a sense of having to grind the league’s bottom team down.

Second-half strikes from Malo Gusto, Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto did just that, lifting Chelsea to second in the Premier League before Sunday’s fixtures with a merited 3-0 win.

Chelsea grind Wolves down

Chelsea do often find difficulty unlocking packed defences, forcing their way through teams that camp behind the ball.

Wolves were only ever going to set up in that way. For the first half at least, it worked for them, as goalkeeper Sam Johnstone frustrated the Blues by saving from Enzo Fernandez (twice) and Alejandro Garnacho.

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Maresca’s side had enjoyed 72 per cent of possession by the time the half-time whistle went. But how much of that had they actually enjoyed? Many of the fans had not. A handful booed them off.

Wolves were bound to tire, and Chelsea bound to increase the pressure in response. Garnacho crossed for Gusto. 1-0. Then Joao Pedro made it two.

Before long, the game was completely stretched as the away side took more risks in search of a route back. Chelsea, as a result, could exploit the space left behind, and Garnacho did just that as he burst down the left and squared for Neto to score against his former team.

He had no problem celebrating against his former side, just as Chelsea had found no problem wearing Wolves down in the end. They had just needed to be patient.

Flying wingers: Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto

AFP via Getty Images

Estevao’s instant impact

The irrepressible 18-year-old Estevao Willian made Chelsea’s second goal just a minute after coming on, with his Brazil team-mate Joao Pedro the scorer, pointing to Estevao so the crowd knew who had made the goal possible.

Audible from the press box was the loud cheer the Chelsea home faithful let out when Estevao first received the ball on the right wing. The fact that very chance resulted in the teen squaring for a Joao Pedro goal demonstrated why Blues fans are so excited every time he gets the ball with a yard or two of space. His goal against Qarabag in the Champions League in midweek demonstrated his ever-improving end product.

Clamour for a first Premier League start since September for Estevao will only intensify after his so rapid impact on what had been a stodgy, awkward game for the Blues.

A first for Gusto

The opening goal was scored by Gusto and, amazingly, it was the right-back’s very first senior goal — for anyone. It came on the occasion of his 98th appearance for Chelsea and the 165th match of his senior career.

When Enzo Maresca realised the French international was the player who had got on the end of Garnacho’s cross to convert, he turned to his coaching staff with a broad smile and simply said “Malo!” Clearly he was as surprised as anyone at Stamford Bridge that 22-year-old Gusto had netted.

That was after Maresca had stopped himself sprinting down the touchline, just about showing enough restraint and therefore avoiding a yellow card, learning from his mistake. Things hadn’t been quite the same against Liverpool, of course, yet just as on that night, Chelsea were all smiles at full-time. They sit second.

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