Enzo Maresca has revealed how he had to break the news to Chelsea wonderkid Estevao Willian last week that England is enjoying a relatively warm November when the 18-year-old Brazilian complained to his head coach that he was finding London too cold.
Estevao is enjoying an impressive first season with the Blues. He has not started a Premier League game since September, but has been showing his talents in other competitions, including being their best player in Wednesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Qarabag.
Maresca is considering starting the teenager as Wolves visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday night – which would keep him warmer than sitting with the substitutes on the bench.
‘He’s ready to start,’ Maresca said of using Estevao in the Premier League. ‘For sure, he’s ready to start. But if Estevao starts, another one is on the bench, and probably the other one also wants to start. We just try to do the best for Estevao. We are helping him in terms of adapt to England.
‘Last week he was complaining about it being cold. Last week was still October. Imagine December, January! He has to adapt. He’s happy. He’s doing fantastic. For sure he’s a talented player for this club.’
Asked what he told Estevao when he told him it is too cold, Maresca said: ‘That it’s still hot!’
Chelsea’s Brazilian wonderkid Estevao (centre) is struggling with the cold in England
Enzo Maresca has jokingly told the youngster to wait until January for the worst of the cold weather
When Chelsea kick off on Saturday evening against Wolves it is predicted to be 11 celsius in west London. In Copacabana, it will be 24 celsius.
Meanwhile, Romeo Lavia is set to undergo further checks on his newest muscular injury, with Maresca saying: ‘We need to wait still some hours to do all the checks that he needs, but for sure at the moment he’s injured. It’s painful, so we need to do all the checks and then we’ll see.’
Pedro Neto may return for Chelsea after his small issue forced him out of their Champions League trip to Qarabag. He had a session with a club physio on Thursday but is planning on participating in team training on Friday. They will then decide whether he is fit enough to face his former club Wolves on Saturday night.