"100 Per Cent" - Xabi Alonso Confirms Chelsea Youngster Will Play Important Role Amid Concerns Over Minutes | OneFootball

Estevao will be hoping for a start against Leeds United in the Carabao Cup.

Xabi Alonso has played down rumours that Estevao Willian is worried about his future at Chelsea amid struggles for minutes.

Earlier this month, ESPN Brasil reported that Estevao is unhappy with his current situation at Stamford Bridge under Alonso.

The new Chelsea manager primarily uses a 3-4-2-1 formation, which has just three attacking spots, and one of them is for a striker. This means Estevao directly competes with Cole Palmer and club-record signing Morgan Rogers for the two spots behind the striker.

The alternative is not very enticing, either. Estevao could adapt to playing as a right wing-back, but he is reportedly not keen to change his play style to fit this role.

As a result, it is claimed that Estevao may even consider his options in January if he continues to play a limited role.

Alonso, however, played down this rumour, insisting that the 19-year-old has shown nothing but a positive attitude in training.

“No, Este is ready; he's training well,” responded Alonso when quizzed about Estevao, speaking ahead of Chelsea's third-round Carabao Cup tie against Leeds United.

“The other day he had a very good impact; he has a great chance. So he's fully involved and has a very good attitude every day.”

On whether the Brazil international will play an important role this season, Alonso added: “Yeah, with Este, 100 per cent because of his potential, because he's so young.

“But he's in that process to adapt and to learn quickly. And the season is going to be long.”

Alonso also admitted that he had already spoken with the teenager, but understandably refused to reveal the content.

“You know, private conversations, they should remain private,” the Chelsea boss emphasised.

“But the season is going to be long. And the players, they have the desire and the hunger to prove and to show every day that they are up for the challenge; it's what we want to create here in the building.

“And Este is part of it. So he has had a very good attitude, a very good mentality to prepare for every game and to be ready for the team.”

Estevao still in a good spot at Chelsea

In fairness, it would have been justified if Estevao were concerned with his minutes as the report suggested. Palmer and Rogers have hit the ground running this season, and it is hard to imagine Estevao getting ahead of either of the two anytime soon.

On the other hand, Estevao should not be far off the pair, either. He appears to be the next in line in the pecking order, ahead of Geovany Quenda and Jamie Gittens.

Pedro Neto is a special case because he’s fully capable of playing as a wing-back, but even then, Estevao is better suited to playing as a number 10.

In other words, Alonso will likely be able to allocate enough room to satisfy Estevao, given that Palmer and Rogers will need periods of rest throughout the campaign.

If any Chelsea attackers were worried, it would likely be Gittens and Quenda. To put it into perspective, Estevao has already played 96 minutes of football so far this season, while Gittens and Quenda have had 10 minutes and eight minutes under their belt, respectively.

Unlike Estevao, who can play centrally, the other two wingers prefer to operate wide. So, unless Alonso opts for a different formation, their best chance of getting minutes in the manager's 3-4-2-1 system is to adapt to wing-back roles.