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Xabi Alonso will be frustrated and a touch embarrassed, Cole Palmer will be angry, and Chelsea’s fans are not impressed after watching the loss to Tottenham. But one player will be more annoyed than all.
Palmer got a red, Alonso’s tactics were all wrong, Morgan Rogers was beaten in 14 of 17 duels, and Mike Penders’ nightmare scenario came to life. But Estevao has more reason to be angry than any of the above.
With Joao Pedro absent, Alonso had a decision to make in the final third. Having chosen to ignore Danny Welbeck and push Rogers up top, Alonso decided to bring Geovany Quenda in for his first league start.
Chelsea fans have been crying out for Estevao to get game time. The Brazilian is miles ahead of Quenda and, although different players, the Brazil international would have easily made Chelsea more threatening.
Yet, Quenda was picked, having hardly featured at all before Saturday’s game. Unsurprisingly, Estevao is not impressed. TeamTalk says Estevao is shocked at his lack of game time and cannot understand why.
TalkingPoints
How can Xabi Alonso get Estevao Willian into the side? 🤔 The Brazilian has seen very little action under his new manager…
Amid the bad news for Alonso in the last few days – the loss to Spurs, the tactical embarrassment, the Palmer red, the Pedro injury, and more – the reports Estevao wants showdown talks is more bad news.
Chelsea have no plans to move Estevao on, despite some previous claims that Barcelona are considering a £111m bid. Indeed, the Blues feel the second half of the season could see Estevao come to the fore.
Previously, it has been claimed that Chelsea could even offer the former Palmeiras ace a new deal, as a reward for his patience and lack of game time under Alonso. He has started twice, but both in the Cup.
It is likely that with Palmer injured, Estevao gets a start for Chelsea on Wednesday night when Alonso takes his side to Anfield to face former club Liverpool. But if Chelsea offered new terms, would he accept?
Chances are, given his lack of game time and questioning his overall role at Chelsea while Alonso is still in charge, he may reject those advances. Even more so, if Barcelona continues to show interest in Estevao.