Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has moved to reassure Estevao that the young Brazilian remains an important part of his plans, despite the winger seeing less playing time since the Spaniard took charge of the club.
Estevao enjoyed regular minutes last season under previous coaches Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, but his role has diminished at the start of Alonso's tenure. That shift has fuelled speculation in Brazil that the 18-year-old is frustrated with his current standing at Stamford Bridge.
Addressing the situation directly on Tuesday, Alonso dismissed any suggestion that Estevao's application has dropped off despite the reduced game time. "No, Este is ready, he's training well," the manager said, pointing to the player's recent contribution off the bench as evidence of his sharpness. "[On Sunday], he had a very good impact, he has a great chance. So he's fully involved and with a very good attitude every day."
When pressed on whether Estevao still has a significant part to play for Chelsea this season, Alonso was unequivocal in his praise for the teenager's ability and character. "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," he explained, suggesting patience will be required as the youngster continues to settle into a new system.
The former Bayer Leverkusen coach also acknowledged that he has held discussions with Estevao regarding his role under the new regime, though he declined to reveal specifics. "Private conversations should remain private," Alonso said, keeping the details of those exchanges between himself and the player.
Instead, the Chelsea boss chose to focus on the broader standards he wants to instil throughout the squad, framing Estevao's situation as part of a wider competitive environment he is trying to build at the club. "The players that 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," Alonso stated. "And Este is part of it. So he has had a very good attitude, very good mentality to prepare every game and to be ready for the team."
The comments come amid a period of adjustment for Chelsea as Alonso implements his own tactical philosophy following his summer appointment. Squad rotation and competition for places appear to be central features of his early approach, with even highly-rated young talents like Estevao having to adapt to a more demanding environment for minutes.
Despite the reports of discontent originating from Brazilian media, Alonso's public comments paint a picture of a manager who values the winger's qualities and sees him as integral to Chelsea's long-term project, even if that means the teenager must earn his opportunities through performances in training and cameo appearances rather than guaranteed starts.
With a long campaign still ahead, Alonso's message appears designed to keep Estevao motivated and focused, while also serving as a broader statement about the culture of competition and accountability he wants to establish among his players at Stamford Bridge.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (football).