In the buildup to Chelsea’s crucial Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal, head coach Liam Rosenior has offered a compassionate update on the availability of teenage star Estevao Willian, while outlining his long-term commitment to nurturing the young Brazilian’s career at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking to the media ahead of Tuesday’s match at the Emirates Stadium, where Chelsea must overturn a 3-2 deficit, Rosenior confirmed that the 18-year-old remains on compassionate leave and under no pressure to return following a personal matter.
“I don’t know yet,” Rosenior admitted regarding Estevao’s potential involvement. “He’s a young kid who’s come and been magnificent. He’s going through a really difficult time for personal reasons and he’s on compassionate leave. I won’t put any pressure on him. It has to be right for him and he has to feel he’s in the right place to perform for this team”.
The manager’s cautious approach is a hallmark of his philosophy for handling the club’s young talent. While acknowledging the immense excitement surrounding Estevao, who has scored six goals in 29 appearances, Rosenior consistently emphasizes a balanced, long-term view.
“I understand why fans are frustrated when he’s not on the pitch because when you see him on the pitch, he does magical things,” he said. “He’s 18 years old, he’s come from a completely different culture, a completely different way of playing, different weather, different intensity. ‘Protect’ is one word and I agree with that, but ‘look after’ is probably a better term”.
Rosenior elaborated further, stating his belief in a dual responsibility to both the player and the club. “I want him to have an outstanding career. I also want him to help us win now. There’s a fine balance between the two. So, for me, I’m going to use him when I think it’s the right time for us as a team,” he explained, noting that Estevao had a “really, really good chance” of starting in either this clash or the upcoming Premier League fixture.
The absence of the winger, described by Rosenior as a “player with special abilities,” would be a blow to Chelsea’s hopes of reaching Wembley, especially given his impactful cameo in the first leg.
Compounding the selection concerns, Rosenior also revealed uncertainty over fellow winger Jamie Gittens, who sustained a hamstring injury in the recent win over West Ham United.
Facing the reality of the tie, Rosenior acknowledged the scale of the challenge. “The reality is Arsenal are favourites for the tie,” he said. “They’re a goal up and they’re at home. They’ll expect to go through. We need to take it as far as we can”.
In managing his squad for this high-stakes game, Rosenior has signaled he will continue to assess players, having been pleasantly surprised by some performances in his early matches in charge.
Ultimately, the situation underscores Rosenior’s patient and holistic management style, where the welfare of a young player adapting to a new country is placed ahead of immediate, albeit significant, footballing demands.