This was supposed to be a season to gradually integrate Estevao Willian at Chelsea, but in recent weeks, he has felt like a key player. In the last two matches, the Blues failed to see off Leeds and Burnley in games they were winning.

Against Leeds, Estevao started and was substituted with the Blues 2-0 up. They ended up drawing 1-1. Against Burnley on Saturday, the Brazilian was not in condition to start. Without him, they toiled miserably in attack for much of the match and did not add to the early goal Joao Pedro scored. It was a game that screamed out for his skill, inventiveness, and goal-scoring instinct.

With Cole Palmer still struggling to find consistency, Jamie Gittens injured, and Alejandro Garnacho failing to impress, Estevao has become the second-best winger after Pedro Neto. Although he is not as consistent or as defensively reliable as the Portuguese, his individual qualities make him the profile you would want to score a goal when you really need one.

It drew attention on Saturday that, searching for the second goal, the attacking options on the bench for manager Liam Rosenior were Liam Delap and Alejandro Garnacho, with two league goals between them this season.

Estevao's impact on Chelsea's system has transcended individual statistics, becoming the barometer of collective success at Stamford Bridge. At just 18 years old, the Brazilian winger has demonstrated that his presence in the starting lineup brings the team tactical unpredictability it lacks when he starts from the bench.

Estevao's ability to attract multiple defenders and generate imbalance in the final third has not only elevated his personal record of assists and goals in the Premier League but has also relieved pressure on figures like Cole Palmer, allowing for an offensive fluidity that translates directly into a higher percentage of victories.

Under the technical management of Liam Rosenior, Chelsea has exhibited a more aggressive and effective identity whenever the youngster assumes the starting role. His tactical discipline in occupying the half-spaces and his vision have been decisive in dismantling compact defensive blocks, a recurring problem for the "Blues" in previous campaigns.

As the season enters its final phase, the team's dependence on the former Palmeiras player's talent seems to be consolidating, reaffirming that his immediate integration into the starting eleven was not just a future investment but also the immediate solution to the London club's offensive inconsistency.

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