Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Estevao will be unavailable for Chelsea’s upcoming clash with Newcastle due to a muscle problem.
Estevao was missing from Maresca’s matchday squad on Tuesday night as Chelsea defeated Cardiff 3-1 to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Alejandro Garnacho completed a second-half brace after he was introduced at the break along with Pedro Neto, who scored the visitors’ other goal at the Cardiff City Stadium.
But news of Estevao’s injury setback took some of the gloss of an otherwise positive evening for the Blues. The 18-year-old forward has shone in his debut season for the club, racking up five goals and an assist in his 21 appearances.
Moises Caicedo’s suspension for the first leg of the semi-final was another slight annoyance for Maresca, with the midfielder booked for sarcastically applauding the referee in the Welsh capital.
Get your football fix
Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro’s football experts sent straight to your inbox – sign up, it’s an open goal.
Maresca’s men will learn their opponents for the semi-finals when the draw is made following Wednesday’s other quarter-finals.
Asked why Estevao had not featured against Cardiff, Maresca told reporters: ‘It’s a small problem, a muscle problem.
‘He won’t be available for Newcastle. We will see for the next one.’
Maresca made sure to praise Chelsea’s substitutes, who came on and provided some added impetus after a goalless first half.
‘These are the kinds of games where I fall in love even more with the players,’ the Italian said.
‘It’s very easy to slip, to slide, because these are tricky games. Cardiff are very well organised and very intense.
‘We expected this game, knowing Ty [George] is not playing a lot, [Marc] Guiu is not playing a lot and Facundo Buonanotte not playing a lot.’
On the importance of giving Chelsea’s more peripheral squad members minutes, Maresca added: ‘They are not playing a lot and they need physical condition and minutes to be there.
‘We were very good off the ball in the second half but we struggled to create chances.’
Having hinted at a potential rift behind the scenes at the weekend, Maresca thanked Chelsea’s travelling fans for the support they showed him in Cardiff.
Asked for his reaction to Chelsea supporters singing his name in the away end, Maresca said: ‘I’m happy. We’re going to play another semi-final. It’s what the fans deserve.
‘It’s a great moment [the fans chanting his name] and I appreciate it. The support, they have always been there.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
