Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca admitted Estevao “raised the energy” inside an anxious Stamford Bridge before helping the Blues beat Wolves 3-0 to finish second in the Premier League.
The home team were booed in the first half after sitting bottom of the league without making a breakthrough.
The stadium was uplifted by Malo Giusto’s headed goal six minutes into the second half, and the mood changed further when the Brazilian teenager was sent on and immediately set up Joao Pedro’s second goal.
– Chelsea ratings: Jarnacho, Fernandes 8/10 in the win against Wolverhampton
Pedro Neto scored the third goal after a cross from Alejandro Garnacho, but despite not scoring the goal, it looked like the spotlight was once again reserved for Estevo.
“I was very nervous before this match,” Mareska said. “These are the worst matches, they are difficult. Everyone thinks it will be easy.
“I can understand that in the first half people were not happy because we did not score. Then when Estevao came the energy increased because people like this type of player.”
The 18-year-old has been largely restricted to substitute appearances in the league as he adapts to English football.
Maresca said this week that Estevao, who moved from his native Brazil in the summer, had complained about the cold weather in London and the manager had warned him he expected it to get worse before it got better.
On the pitch, his debut in the blue shirt was a sensational one and it was his impact – even just during the warm-up – that got the home fans invested in a game they had seemingly lost interest in.
“You can see his talent,” Mariska said. “We are trying to help him adapt and give him the right minutes.
“He arrived from Brazil, and he needs time to adapt, but he will start with us in matches in the future.”
Chelsea are now the division’s top scorer with 21 goals from 11 games, but that statistic was difficult to digest during a sluggish first half.
The goals came within 22 minutes of the second half, and two of them were created by Jarnacho, who continues to impress after his move from Manchester United.
“He arrived from a club where he was not training 100%, so his physical condition was not good,” Maresca said. “Slowly now it’s getting better.
“He knows that to play for us, he has to be good on and off the ball, otherwise he won’t play. We are very happy with him.”
Wolves interim boss James Collins, in the dugout for what appears to be the only time Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards is in talks to take over, reflected on the positives despite the team being eight points adrift of safety.
“The boys are together and working hard,” he added. “There are no small groups, it is very close-knit.
“There is work to do, we have to improve. There are a lot of games left. Our season will not be defined by Chelsea away from home.”
