'He could be happier' - why is Estevao becoming Chelsea's forgotten man?
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Brazilian forward Estevao has made just two starts across all competitions this season The last time Chelsea beat Liverpool, Estevao was the talk of the Premier League.
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The Brazilian was still in his first couple of months at Stamford Bridge when his name hit the headlines after he scored the winner against the Premier League champions with practically the final kick of the match last October.
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Fast forward 12 months, and Estevao is beginning to attract attention for all the wrong reasons as he struggles to force his way into Xabi Alonso's side.
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The 19-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Palmeiras last summer, was conspicuous by his absence on Wednesday night as Chelsea were knocked out of the Carabao Cup following a penalty shootout loss to Liverpool at Anfield.
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The Blues had taken the lead in the first half through Morgan Rogers, but they failed to kick on after Cody Gakpo quickly levelled for the hosts.
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Most concerning for Estevao, though, was that as both teams pushed for a winner in the second half, Alonso never appeared to consider the forward.
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The clearest indication of just how low Estevao sits in Alonso's pecking order came midway through the second half, when Alonso made a triple substitution in an attempt to turn the game in his side's favour.
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One of the three who came on was Emmanuel Emegha, who had yet to feature for the Blues since his summer move from Strasbourg.
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Just moments after that triple change, which brought Chelsea's total number of substitutions to five, Estevao could be seen ending his warm-up and retreating to the bench.
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It was another night of no action for the Brazilian.
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Liverpool overcome Chelsea in tense penalty shootout 'Stutter' penalty back in the spotlight after Barco miss costs Chelsea Sadly for Estevao, Wednesday night's situation at Anfield was nothing new for him.
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The Brazilian has failed to make the starting XI in any of the eight Premier League matches since Alonso took charge of the Blues in the summer.
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His total minutes for the campaign so far stand at an underwhelming 172, with 125 of those coming in the victories over Luton Town and Leeds United in the earlier rounds of the EFL Cup.
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Yet even in the thrilling 6-3 win against Daniel Farke's side, which remains one of only two games he has started this campaign, he was withdrawn at half-time with Chelsea trailing 1-0.
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After the fourth-round defeat by Liverpool, Alonso defended his decision not to play Estevao, hinting that the forward is still coming to grips with the physical demands of English football.
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"We started with Pedro [Neto], Morgan [Rogers] and Danny Welbeck, and the game had very intense moments," said Alonso.
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"We knew it was going to be physical, and Malo [Gusto] had cramps, so we were a bit forced with substitutions.
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The season is going to be very long, and there will be moments for everyone."
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When asked directly about the Brazilian, Alonso added: "He could be happier.
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He wants to play. I'm sure Estevao will have his moment, it is my responsibility.
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"We know the game in England is really intense, and you need to be up for it. Estevao is in his second season. The season is going to be long."
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Neto scored both goals in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Everton this month One of the main reasons behind Estevao's exile has been the form of Pedro Neto. It was only a couple of months ago that Portugal international Neto looked destined to leave Chelsea, only two years after joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The 26-year-old was linked with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, but he ultimately remained at Stamford Bridge.
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That decision appears to have been influenced by Alonso, who has underlined his faith in Neto by handing him seven starts in eight Premier League matches this season.
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His success out on the right - which also happens to be Estevao's favoured position - has meant opportunities have been few and far between for the Brazilian.
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He has primarily been deployed as a right-sided wing-back in Alonso's 3-4-2-1 system, with his Premier League experience and greater defensive solidity compared to Estevao seemingly winning over the Spaniard.
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After an impressive start to the campaign, in which he has scored four goals in 11 matches, Neto was rewarded with a new six-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
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"He's a player who is a little bit of a victim of the system," former Reading midfielder Jobi McAnuff told Sky Sports.
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"Alonso tends to play Neto in that hybrid wing-back role, expecting him to get high up the pitch as well.
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Maybe he doesn't feel that suits Estevao, and I don't feel it does either."
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One area that has not been a problem for the Blues this season is attack, with the forward positions firmly in the hands of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Rogers, who has made a spectacular start to life at Stamford Bridge following his £117m move from Aston Villa.
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Against Liverpool, though, Estevao couldn't even get a look-in despite Chelsea being without the suspended Palmer and the injured Joao Pedro.
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"How Estevao has not got on the pitch tonight, I do not know," said former Crystal Palace forward Clinton Morrison. "He must be thinking, 'What do I have to do?
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We have injuries to two of the star players up front, and I'm still not getting on the pitch'."
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Estevao will be hoping he can follow in the footsteps of Neto and revive his Stamford Bridge career.
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