Cucurella says Estevao can be as good as Lamine Yamal | OneFootball

Marc Cucurella says Estevao has what it takes to get to the level of Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal.

Cucurella plays with Yamal, who finished as the Ballon d’Or runner up, with the Spanish national team.

Estevao has impressed since his summer move from Palmeiras to Chelsea and asked to compare the two ahead of the Blues’ game against Yamal’s Barcelona, he said: “Difficult one.

“Both of them are special players with talent. They always try 1v1s and can decide games. The only difference is Lamine has played in Europe for two or three seasons and Estevao has only arrived this season.

“But he is doing really well and if he continues in this way and at this level and improving in all aspects he can get to Lamine’s level.”

Cole Palmer will remain sidelined for Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Barcelona after suffering a fractured toe.

But the Blues have won nine of their 12 games without Palmer, and Cucurella says the club are ready for a massive week, with a game against Arsenal on Sunday also to follow.

“It’s a big week,” he said. “All players want to play these games because they have a special feeling. Everyone is focused.

“If we win we will have more confidence and people will start to speak about us, but we need to remember we are in November.

“Two or three weeks ago when we lose against Brighton and Manchester United, everyone said we were very young and not ready. Now we have played good games and people are saying we can fight for trophies and the Champions League. It’s true that we want to win all the trophies but two weeks ago we weren’t a bad team, and now we are not the best team.”