International manager hands Enzo Maresca a big gift with Saturday’s game coming up fast | OneFootball

Estevao Willian is on the bench.

It’s not what Chelsea fans want to hear at club level – but internationally, we’re happy with that.

The young winger had what could prove to be his breakout moment the last time he played for Chelsea, sliding in at the far post to score a late winner against Liverpool.

He then scored twice in Brazil’s game against South Korea on Friday, taking the hype up another level. But the team news is out for the Selecao’s latest game in Asia, against Japan, and Estevao is on the bench. Luiz Henrique of Zenit St Petersburg plays in his place.

Ancelotti gives Estevao a rest after South Korea heroics

Estevao trains with Brazil despite rumours of a flu.

There had been some talk of him having the flu, but he trained normally yesterday, and we’re pretty sure this is just Carlo Ancelotti rotating his team and trying out some different options.

We have said all along that Estevao was unlikely to start this weekend, and the fact he hasn’t played this morning won’t change that – but it will make him that much fresher and more likely to get more minutes off the bench when we take on Nottingham Forest in the early kick off on Saturday.

Flying back from Japan is going to be even more disruptive to players than coming back from Brazil because of the extra distance and time zone changes. Still, Estevao should have a couple of days back in the UK to acclimatise, enough to be considered as a sub for Saturday in any case.

In other news…

On the subject of wingers, Chelsea are apparently still interested in Lyon’s Belgium international Malick Fofana and are considering a bid next summer. We look at who the Blues might sell to make that happen here. Spoiler: it’s not Estevao.