Maresca Hails “Special” Estevao After Chelsea’s 3–0 UCL Triumph Over Barcelona

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has showered praise on teenage sensation Estevao after the Blues cruised to a comfortable 3–0 victory over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Brazilian wonderkid, who has been steadily winning the hearts of Chelsea fans, opened the scoring before Liam Delap and a Jules Kounde own-goal sealed a memorable night at Stamford Bridge.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Maresca described Estevao as a rare player and an even rarer personality in today’s football world.

“Estevao looks like an old-style guy. He is not on his phone all the time, not spending a lot of time on social media,” Maresca said. “He is working hard, he is a simple and normal kid. I love that. His family is always around. He is a special player but a normal guy.”

The 17-year-old’s humility and discipline appear to be as impressive as his on-field brilliance—an encouraging mix for fans and a blessing for any manager.

Chelsea will now hope Estevao can maintain his momentum as they prepare for a tough Premier League showdown against Arsenal this weekend.

Opinion: A Breath of Fresh Air in a Loud Football World

In an era where young footballers often become social media stars before they even prove themselves on the pitch, Estevao feels refreshing—a reminder of what pure football passion looks like.

His attitude mirrors the old-school players who let their boots do the talking. No flashy controversies, no unnecessary online drama—just focus, family, and football. And honestly, that might be the secret behind how quickly he has settled into Chelsea’s system.

Watching Estevao glide past defenders with the calmness of a seasoned pro, it’s difficult not to believe he’s destined for something big. Chelsea fans have been craving a player with both talent and maturity, and Estevao is showing signs of being exactly that.

If he continues like this—grounded, hardworking, and hungry—Chelsea might just be witnessing the rise of their next great superstar.