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Enzo Maresca Explains Estevao Absence After Cardiff Win
Enzo Maresca has confirmed that young Chelsea winger Estevao missed Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup win over Cardiff City due to a minor muscle problem.
Estevao’s absence from the squad for the 3-1 victory came as a surprise to many Chelsea fans, with the 18-year-old widely expected to either start or feature heavily in the quarter-final clash. With rotation anticipated, it looked like a perfect opportunity for the youngster to impress.
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The Brazilian has seen limited minutes in recent weeks, with his last start coming in the defeat to Leeds United earlier this month. Since then, he has only managed brief substitute appearances against Bournemouth and Everton.
While Pedro Neto’s excellent form explains Maresca’s preference in the league, the Cardiff game was seen as a chance for Estevao to stake his claim. Unfortunately, a minor injury ruled him out of contention.
Speaking after the match, Maresca confirmed the issue was not serious but will still keep the winger sidelined for the immediate future. “He had a small problem, a muscle problem,” the Chelsea boss said. “He won’t be available for Newcastle, and we’ll see for the next one.”
As a result, Estevao is also expected to miss Saturday’s Premier League trip to Newcastle United. The earliest potential return date is now Chelsea’s home league fixture against Aston Villa on Saturday, December 27, with a full week between matches offering hope of a complete recovery.
Chelsea could also receive a boost in the same period with the possible return of Dario Essugo. The summer signing returned to training in late November after recovering from a thigh injury but suffered a minor setback shortly afterwards.
Maresca recently played down concerns over Essugo’s fitness, insisting the issue is unrelated to his previous injury. “It’s not the same injury that he had in the past,” he explained. “It’s something small, and it will be a short time.”
With a busy schedule ahead, Chelsea will be hoping both Estevao and Essugo can return soon as Maresca continues to manage his squad carefully through a demanding run of fixtures.
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