Chelsea claimed a 3-1 win over Cardiff City to advance to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup last night.
They emerged victorious thanks to a brace from Alejandro Garnacho and a goal from Pedro Neto.
Despite the win, the absence of youngster Estevao Willian confused Chelsea fans who expected to see him strut his stuff.
Unfortunately, he missed the tie due to a muscle issue and is set to be unavailable this weekend when Chelsea visit Newcastle United.
Maresca said (via football.london): “He had a small problem – a muscle problem. He won’t be available for Newcastle, and we’ll see for the next one.”
The ‘exciting’ Estevao was a huge miss for Chelsea, with Maresca turning to Tyrique George on the right wing in his absence.
The Cobham Academy graduate failed to make an impact and was replaced by Neto, who scored an important goal.
Neto will likely retain his starting berth this weekend, but the Blues must be desperate to have the young Brazilian available, even as an option off the bench.
Estevao has the ability to get fans off their seats and also has the end product to go with it, making him one of the most exciting football talents around.
Maresca has been criticised for managing his minutes. The Italian tactician is being careful with his development, but fans are impatient and want to see him in action.
Finding the right moments to give Estevao a chance to shine is key. Throwing him into the deep end and hoping he swims does not help.
There are still aspects of his game that need fine-tuning, and Maresca is in the best position to help him grow.
