2 months ago
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The main talking points from Chelsea's disappointing defeat against Atalanta on Tuesday evening with the Blues without a victory from their last four matches in all competitions
On the way back into the centre of Bergamo, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the faint sound of the Estevao Willian chant could be heard from a group of Chelsea supporters. "Estevao, uh huh, uh huh, I like it."
What the 18-year-old Brazilian has done since moving to Stamford Bridge is nothing short of remarkable. Such an impact that his name is chanted everywhere the Blues go, such an impact that he is usually the main talking point, such an impact that it was baffling not to see him come on the pitch when Chelsea were chasing a goal.
On 67 minutes, the score was level at 1-1. Atalanta were playing the better after a concerning drop off from Chelsea in the second-half, but there was no doubting the Italian side were there to be got at if the Blues could string three or four positives passes together.
Enzo Fernandez looked done. The Argentine has shown signs of fatigue - and understandably so given the amount of football he has played in recent times with virtually no break - and Enzo Maresca decided to take him off. Warming up on the touchline were Estevao and Andrey Santos but instead Maresca called Malo Gusto over to come on.
Gusto has done well this season in midfield and he came on alongside Reece James and Moises Caicedo in the middle of the park at the New Balance Arena. With Josh Acheampong at right-back, Chelsea ended the game with three right-backs on the pitch. Albeit Acheampong is more naturally a centre-back.
Estevao looked the obvious one for Maresca. The Brazil international has played in the No.10 role for Chelsea at times this season and would have been a direct replacement for Fernandez. Then, just less than 10 minutes later, Wesley Fofana - who came on as a half-time substitute - was forced off after being hurting his eye in an incident with Gianluca Scamacca.
Tosin Adarabioyo replaced the Frenchman as Estevao watched on. Chelsea still had one more substitution window because Fofana came on at half-time. A team is allowed three substitution windows during regular time, but any changes made at the half-time break do not count towards said limits.
Yet Maresca chose not to bring the game-changing Brazilian on.
"The idea, the change of Tosin [Adarabioyo], is because Wes [Fofana], we needed to change him, so that was a bit enforced," said Maresca when asked by football.london whether Wesley Fofana's injury influenced his decision not to bring Estevao on. "With one more change, probably there was more chance for Estevao to go on, or Andrey [Santos] to go on, but then with that change, it changed a little bit the plan of the game."
Chelsea's start to December has been a nightmare. Three away games and zero wins. The Leeds United defeat was one of the lowest points of the season to date and the Blues looked fairly toothless at Bournemouth a few days later. Tuesday night's defeat in Bergamo was a different kind of disappointment.
The game was there for Chelsea. They managed to ride the wave of some early Atalanta pressure and when the visitors took the lead through Joao Pedro, they completely controlled the game for the 20-or-so minutes leading up to half-time.
There were even a couple of opportunities for Chelsea to put the game to bed not long after the second-half started. Neither were taken, though, and the Blues were left to rue the missed chances.
One positive for Chelsea was the performance of Acheampong. Maresca spoke last week about "regretting" the decision not to use the 19-year-old defender in Leeds seven days ago, but called upon him in Italy.
Acheampong started at right-back and was up against the dangerous Ademola Lookman. But the teenage sensation dealt with the Atalanta forward superbly. A couple of incredible blocks from Acheampong - in what was his first-ever Champions League start - had supporters purring over his performance. Not only that, but his passing range is frightening for someone so young.
Fofana hurt his eye and was struggling to see, hence the decision to take him off. Maresca said he is hoping the Frenchman will be fine for the visit of Everton to Stamford Bridge at the weekend, but there should not be any rush to bring him back into the side, especially when Acheampong is there.
He has done more than enough to be in Maresca's thinking for Saturday afternoon. He has done more than enough all season-long, really, but there seems to be an element of the head coach wanting to protect the Cobham graduate. Scrap that, this boy is ready for anything.
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