Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has advised Estevao Willian to be physically prepared if he must excel in the Premier League.

The Brazilian became the youngest player to ever register a Premier League assist for Chelsea during their 5-1 victory over West Ham United in August, and he has started four of their six English top-flight matches so far in 2025-26.

Maresca has been eager to ease Estevao into first-team action at Stamford Bridge, however the Brazil international has already firmly established himself as a key member of the Blues’ senior squad.

Speaking with the club’s website, Maresca suggested however that Estevao may still need time to be ‘physically prepared’ for a role in the middle of the pitch.

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“I think Estevao reminded me a lot of Cole when Cole was with me in the U23s at City, and when he was with us in the first team.

“I think Cole’s path has been similar to Estevao’s path in terms of starting wide as a winger. And then slowly, slowly you can move inside.”

Maresca did admit that Estevao will have to bulk up if he wants to take the step, however, adding: “The Premier League is completely different compared to other countries in the world. If you want to play in the middle, you need to be physically prepared.

“I think Cole now is like that. In the past, he needed to develop that. I see Estevao exactly in the same way.”