In a stunning revelation from BlueCo, Chelsea’s ownership group, the Blues are poised for a significant lift as Estevao Willian gears up for a return to the squad in their upcoming Premier League showdown against Aston Villa. The match is slated for December 27 at Stamford Bridge, where the west London side will face off against the in-form Villans, bolstered by the Brazilian star’s comeback.
Estevao was sidelined for the midweek trip to Cardiff due to a slight injury and also sat out Saturday’s thrilling 2-2 stalemate with Newcastle United at St. James’ Park. Now, the 18-year-old sensation is on the verge of making his much-anticipated return, delivering a massive morale boost to the team.
Since joining Stamford Bridge, Estevao has dazzled with five goals and one assist across 21 appearances in all competitions this season. Yet, in the Premier League, he’s only started six of his 14 outings, leaving fans eager to see if he’ll earn a spot in the starting XI against Villa.
However, the bombshell doesn’t end there—Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca will be absent from the touchline for the fixture. The yellow card he received during the Newcastle draw marked his third Premier League booking of the campaign, triggering a one-match suspension.
Explaining the incident, Maresca commented: “It is better if… I was complaining just because the same foul was a yellow card for us and they did exactly the same foul three times. Make a foul from behind and no yellow card. So I was just complaining why the same foul, one is yellow card and the other one is no yellow card. So this is the reason why I complained with the referee.”
This isn’t Maresca’s first rodeo with a ban; back in April, he served a one-match suspension during Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Everton, watching from the press box alongside media personnel. A similar setup could unfold next weekend, with Maresca favoring the vantage point just behind the dugouts at Stamford Bridge.