Chelsea advances to the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup after defeating Palmeiras, even with Estevao Willian scoring against his new team.

Enzo Maresca has hailed the “huge talent” of Estevao, insisting the young winger will be a “very important player” for Chelsea following their thrilling victory over Palmeiras in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals.

The Blues secured their place in the last four with a 2-1 win in Philadelphia, a match that Maresca described as the “perfect night,” despite Estevao scoring against his future club. Chelsea took the lead early on, with Cole Palmer showcasing his skill by turning sharply on the edge of the box and finding the back of the net just 16 minutes in.

However, the Brazilian side responded after the break, with 18-year-old Estevao firing home from a tight angle to level the score. The young talent, who is set to complete his move to Chelsea this summer, certainly made an impression on his new employers.

The decisive moment came seven minutes from time when a cross from Malo Gusto was deflected in by Palmeiras defender Agustin Giay, sealing the win for Chelsea and leaving Maresca pleased with the outcome.

Reflecting on the match, Maresca said, “Happy because we won and also happy because Estevao scored, the perfect night. He is very good, a huge talent, fantastic player. The only thing is, when you come from South America or another part of the world, is that you need to adapt. We are going to help him to adapt, be happy and enjoy football. We have no doubt he will be an important player for Chelsea.”

Estevao’s move to Chelsea, which could eventually be worth £52 million, was agreed back in May 2024. Palmeiras included a clause allowing him to participate in the Club World Cup, and he certainly made his mark against the Blues, causing problems with his direct running and taking his goal with impressive precision.

After the match, Chelsea’s Palmer was seen chatting with Estevao, expressing his excitement for the young player’s arrival. “You can see he is a top player, so it is very exciting. I just said we are excited for you to join, but he didn’t understand a single word I said,” Palmer remarked.

The post-match atmosphere was emotional for both Estevao and his manager, Abel Ferreira, who praised the young star. Ferreira stated, “I spoke before with Maresca and told him ‘you bought an amazing player but more than this you bought an amazing person. You need to take care of him. You need to embrace him and, in the beginning, for sure he will make mistakes.’ Like you saw today, he is an amazing player with a lot of skill. He is a player who can win a game alone.”

Despite Maresca’s glowing assessment of the match, it wasn’t entirely smooth sailing for Chelsea. Captain Reece James picked up an injury during the warm-up, while Liam Delap and Levi Colwill received bookings that will rule them out of the semi-final clash.

On a positive note, the debut of £55 million signing Joao Pedro added to the excitement for the Italian manager. The Brazilian forward replaced Delap before the hour mark, while Nicolas Jackson remained on the bench after serving his suspension for a red card received in the group stage.

As Chelsea prepares for their semi-final against Fluminense in New Jersey, the anticipation continues to build around Estevao’s potential impact in the squad.