Chelsea Lucky To Have Estevoo Who Set A Record

Estevoo began to shine at Chelsea (Instagram/@chelseafc).

JAKARTA - Enzo Maresca said he was lucky to coach Estevoo and believed the Brazilian could follow in Cole Palmer's footsteps to shine in Chelsea's first team.

The Blues beat Ajax who played with 10 people at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, October 23, 2025, early morning WIB. Estevao - who is 18 years old - became the club's youngest goalscorer in the Champions League.

In his fifth appearance as a starter at Chelsea after moving from Palmeiras for 29 million in the summer, Esteveao came on impressively and almost closed his performance at the end of the game with an incredible shot, which only narrowly widened.

Maresca coached Palmer, who was sidelined from injury here, during their time together at Manchester City's academy, before the England international joined Chelsea and proved himself to be one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League.

The Blues manager revealed that Estevoo's presence was like reminiscent with Palmer in the past.

"The strange thing about Estevoo is a young player and you're worried he only played well once and then felt top."

"Estevao is different, he is polite, humble, and willing to learn. His family has a big role there. We are happy not only because of his appearance, but also because he is a good boy, a good boy."

"I think in the Premier League he needs a little more time. It looks a lot like Cole Palmer. I've trained him the same age as the Manchester City U-23 team."

"Cole played wide and now he's playing in central position. Now Estevoo is playing wide, but in the future I think he's more like a midfielder."

"I feel very lucky to be the manager because it's fun, you can enjoy it. We've said many times, I think fans in the end."

"They pay tickets to see players like Cole (Palmer), like Estevoo, a player like this. So, it's great that we can have players like Estevoo, like Cole, like them," said Maresca.

Moments after Ajax captain Kenneth Taylor was sent off after a VAR review for hitting Facundo Buonanotte in the 17th minute, Marc Guiu opened the scoring before Moises Caicedo doubled their lead.

Ajax narrowed the gap with a Wout Weghorst penalty in the 33rd minute. However, the former Manchester United striker fouled Enzo Fernandez in the penalty box just before halftime.

The Argentine managed to execute a penalty to put Chelsea 3-1 up.

Estevoo then won the game and scored a penalty before substitute Tyrique George added a fifth goal just after the second half started.

Chelsea became the first team in Champions League history to have three teenage players on the scoreboard.

There is still time for 17-year-old mitigating Watts to become the club's youngest player in the tournament.

"That's the club's strategy. We have so many young players. I think last season we were the youngest squad in Premier League history."

"So, this season we are continuing in the same way. I work with them every day, I know what they can do."

"I also know that we will experience times where we are a little more difficult, of course. However, I think the good thing about them is that they want to learn, they want to develop, and I think that's good," said Maresca, who made 10 changes to the team that beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 last weekend.