03/09/2026
🚨 Thiago Silva on Estevao’s situation at Chelsea under Xabi Alonso:
🗣️ Thiago Silva: “I spoke with Estevao recently. I told him, ‘Don’t panic because you’ve sat on the bench for a few games. You’re 19 years old at Chelsea, not 29 and running out of time.’
He wants to play centrally. I understand that because when you watch him with the ball, you understand why. But then I told him, ‘Look at who is playing there. Palmer is there, Rogers can play there. Are you asking the coach to remove them because you’re talented?’
At Palmeiras, everybody already knew who Estevao was. At Chelsea, he has to make them know again.
He told me he doesn’t want to change his game or become bigger just because people say the Premier League is physical. I said, ‘Good. Don’t wake up tomorrow trying to become Adama Traore.’
That’s not why Chelsea bought him. They bought the boy who receives the ball and wants to dribble past somebody. Keep that. But also understand Xabi has to win football matches.
The best young players sometimes think the manager has to find a place for them. No. Make it impossible for him not to.
If Estevao gets 20 minutes, make the next team selection uncomfortable for Xabi. If he gets 30, make people ask why it wasn’t 60. Eventually you stop asking where you fit in the system because the manager starts changing the system to fit you.
That’s what I would tell him. Don’t fight Palmer. Don’t fight Neto. Don’t fight Xabi Alonso.
Fight the idea that Chelsea can be better without you on the pitch.”
