When asked about Estêvão Willian’s stunning goal against Chelsea during the Club World Cup, manager Enzo Maresca delivered a light-hearted but clever answer:
“We punished him when he arrived, because he scored against us.”
The remark, filled with humor, shows both Maresca’s personality and the warm relationship already developing between Chelsea’s head coach and the teenage Brazilian prodigy. That strike for Palmeiras made headlines worldwide at the time, showcasing Estêvão’s extraordinary flair and fearlessness on a big stage and ironically, it came at the expense of his new club.
Now, months later, the tables have turned. Instead of lining up against the Blues, Estêvão is wearing their shirt, and Maresca’s playful words underline how much the club value his potential.
Behind the joke lies a deeper truth: Chelsea know exactly what kind of talent they have on their hands a player capable of producing moments of magic even against elite opposition.
Fans have taken Maresca’s comment as a sign of how quickly Estêvão has settled at Stamford Bridge.
Rather than being treated as an outsider, he’s already part of the group dynamic, even being teased for his history of scoring against them.
That kind of integration is crucial for a young player adjusting to the demands of the Premier League.
For supporters, it also fuels the excitement of imagining Estêvão repeating the same brilliance – but this time for Chelsea, not against them.
