BREAKING: Tension Between Estevao Vs Lamine Yamal As Chelsea Prepare For Barcelona UCL Showdown

BREAKING: Tension Between Estevao Vs Lamine Yamal As Chelsea Prepare For Barcelona UCL Showdown

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has poured cold water on rising comparisons between teenage winger Estevao and Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League meeting at Stamford Bridge.

Estevao, 18, has made an immediate impact since joining Chelsea in July and already has nine goals for club and country. With Yamal only a few months younger, both youngsters have become regular talking points among fans and pundits.

Maresca, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, was asked whether the Spanish star could serve as a model for Estevao’s development. The Italian pushed back on the suggestion, insisting the Brazilian is already performing at a level that speaks for itself.

“Estevao is already playing at a high level; he is already in the starting eleven with Brazil,” Maresca told reporters. “For sure, he is very young; he can do many things better, but we are very happy with him.

“It’s nice for people that love football to watch players like Estevao, like Lamine Yamal, like Pedri. This is the beauty of football.”

Maresca stressed that Estevao’s focus must remain on personal growth rather than comparisons.

“He is going to be, for sure, an important player for this club,” he said. “For the future, no doubt.

“He has to be happy. He does not have to think about being better than this player or the other player. He has just to be better than himself day by day. Try to work hard, improve.”

The Chelsea boss also offered an update on Cole Palmer, who has been out with a toe injury. While the forward is showing signs of progress, Maresca admitted he is unlikely to feature against Barcelona or Arsenal.

“Cole is wearing a (protective) boot,” he said. “We don’t know when he will be back, but for sure it will be soon. He’s already on the pitch, he’s already touching the ball, and the feeling (for him) is good.”

Barcelona sit 11th in the league phase of the Champions League with seven points from four games, the same tally as Chelsea.

Maresca, long known for his possession-driven style, also reflected on the influence of Pep Guardiola’s iconic Barcelona side that dominated Europe between 2008 and 2012.

“I decided to be a manager because of Pep’s team, Barcelona, years ago,” he explained. “Now, if clubs or teams decide on a different style, I have said many times that any club, any team can decide in the way they want to play. I chose mine years ago, and this will be the way I like to watch my team in football and also in the future.”