Xabi Alonso faces criticism over his stance on Chelsea star
In the space of a single year, Brazilian Estêvão has gone from one of the most talked-about and praised young talents in the game to a bench-warmer at Chelsea, with fans and journalists questioning the decisions of manager Xabi Alonso.
For much of last season, Estêvão ranked among the most prominent young talents in world football after a promising start at Chelsea.
The change of manager changed everything. Starts have become rare. Xabi Alonso faced questions over why he will not trust the 19-year-old Brazilian winger, having left him on the bench during the penalty shootout defeat to Liverpool in the English League Cup.
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Estêvão has yet to start a single Premier League match this season. His only two starts came in the early rounds of the League Cup, with Chelsea absent from any European competition.
"I understand his situation, and of course he could have been happier," Alonso said. "All players want to play. The right time will come for everything, and I am certain that his chance will come, as that is my responsibility. We have to manage it, and we know the season will be long, and there will be moments when everyone gets their chance."
Rewind to the same point last season and Estêvão was justifying every penny of the 34 million euros Chelsea paid Palmeiras for him. The Brazilian winger caught the eye with his surging runs and his trickery out wide, and he capped it with a superb goal against Barcelona in the Champions League.
A negative ending
His first season at Stamford Bridge ended early, last April, when a hamstring injury ruled him out of the World Cup with Brazil. Many had tipped him to make Carlo Ancelotti's squad, according to the Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo".
Chelsea brought in Xabi Alonso over the summer to take over as permanent manager, succeeding Liam Rosenior. Alonso has since handed Estêvão only limited minutes in the Premier League, mostly as a substitute in the closing stages.
As his appearances dwindle, the Chelsea fans who travelled to back the team against Liverpool spent much of the match chanting Estêvão's name, a clear signal they want to see more of the player.
