A strong message was sent to yamal by Chelsea as Estaveo Dismantles Struggling Barcelona
Looking back, it’s regrettable that you chose not to invest in Estevao’s stock. At the time, the excitement surrounding him seemed overblown, disconnected from his actual potential.
The label of “the best Brazilian player since Neymar” felt like a burden, a heavy and ultimately unhelpful tag for a young forward with limited professional experience.
Given his age (17) and the stage he was at in his career when Chelsea secured his future, it seemed impossible for him to live up to such high expectations.
The fact that Mauricio Pochettino, who played a part in attracting Estevao, was then dismissed from his position didn’t exactly inspire confidence in providing the young player with a secure and supportive environment to grow and fulfill his potential.
He utterly dominated Lightning Lamine, channeling his inner Jackson Storm, leaving no room for doubt. Any remaining skeptics were converted into ardent supporters on a night of profound change for the players, the club, and the manager at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea comprehensively outplayed Barcelona, surpassing them in physicality, demonstrating superior technical skill, and exploiting their tactical weaknesses.
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The feeling that this youthful and somewhat unseasoned team and its coach are developing a strong understanding and synergy is increasingly palpable.
While challenges will undoubtedly arise—the recent Qarabag performance is still fresh, the painful memory of the Sunderland capitulation lingers, and the catastrophic loss against Manchester United was truly unforgettable—these setbacks are becoming less frequent for the reigning world champions.
They are currently presenting the most credible Premier League opposition to Arsenal, and their chances of contending for the Champions League title should not be discounted.
This was a textbook display of skill and strategy, starting with the unexpected initial selection of players and continuing with the outstanding plan and its perfect implementation.
The manager’s response afterward will likely be a casual dismissal, such was his flawless imitation of another manager’s tactics.
At least one team had a good opening in their ridiculous game; the other team was completely absent throughout this match, like a destroyed book with only the empty cover left.
That was a result of the manager’s strategy and the way his players executed it. Several attacking players were used as precision weapons targeting the open areas behind the defense, with a midfielder acting as a late-arriving goal threat, complete with sharp passing.
Another midfielder Moises Caicedo was incredible in the center of the pitch alongside a slightly less steady teammate, while the defensive unit generally handled everything the opposition tried to do.
Marc Cucurella’s game plan was clearly centered on containing the threat posed by young Yamal, and he achieved this through persistent tackling and committing a high number of fouls, more than any other player on the field.
His efforts also contributed to Araujo’s foolish red card right before halftime.
The Chelsea crowd recognized Estevao’s talent, albeit expressing it with a less-than-flattering chant, comparing him unfavorably to another player.
But in truth, the chant was a backhanded compliment. On this particular evening, the Brazilian forward displayed incredible versatility, effortlessly switching between incisive passes and intricate dribbling depending on what the moment demanded.
When presented with the ball on the right wing, Estevao only had one thing in mind. Poor Cubarsi was his target, Estevao completely outmaneuvered the central defender, fended off Balde, and scored a spectacular goal.
This achievement places him among an elite group, making him only the third teenager to score in each of his first three Champions League starts, following in the footsteps of Mbappe and Haaland.
Chelsea had long since taken charge of the match, leading thanks to an unfortunate own goal by Jules Kounde following a well-executed set-piece play. They were also taking full advantage of having more players on the field.
Moreover, three goals that were called back – due to a hand ball and a pair of offsides – only highlighted how much better they were, even before Fernandez passed to Liam Delap, a play that initially looked like it might have been offside.
However, he managed to avoid the Barcelona’s rather weak attempt to catch him offside, allowing him to stay on the field and contribute to Chelsea’s decisive victory.
It was appropriate that Delap found the net and that Andrey Santos played a significant part in the play leading up to the second goal.
Enzo Maresca got both his starting lineup and strategy right, and he also made excellent substitutions and controlled the flow of a match where Chelsea made a clear statement about their strength.
However, the narrative will and ought to revolve around Estevao. He embodies the type of transfer strategy Chelsea is frequently ridiculed for, yet the logic underpinning it is becoming increasingly apparent with each match.
Both the club’s approach and the player himself are demonstrating their genuine value and potential.
