Willy Caballero hails Estevao’s late heroics, defends Chelsea’s careful approach to Young Players

Former Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero has praised the club’s careful handling of its young talents, after teenage sensation Willian scored a dramatic late winner in the Blues’ 2–1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday.

Caballero, who stood in for head coach Enzo Maresca during the post-match press conference following the Italian’s red card, spoke glowingly about the 18-year-old Brazilian’s attitude and development, insisting that Chelsea is deliberately taking a patient approach with their youngsters.

What Caballero said

“It’s not just Estevao. We are doing a great job with many of the players because a lot of them are young,” Caballero said.

He added, “They have to face the opportunity to play from the start, or sometimes not playing, on the bench, or in the stands. It’s part of their growth.”

The Argentine assistant coach, who joined Maresca’s backroom staff this season, defended the decision to ease Estevao into Premier League football, rather than rushing his integration into the starting lineup.

“We know that a young player can suffer when he moves from another country to settle down here and to play for this club,” Caballero explained.

He added, “So the players, first of all, are doing a great job to involve all the new ones. I can speak with him most of the time in Spanish because he understands. He’s a really good kid, and we are so happy for him because he needed that goal, and we needed it too.”

Estevao’s Impact

The Brazilian teenager came off the bench to score a 95th-minute winner, sliding in at the far post to turn home Marc Cucurella’s cross, sealing three important points for Chelsea in a thrilling contest at Stamford Bridge.

Caballero described the strike as the perfect reward for Estevao’s hard work and patience.

“Like today, Estevao had just a few minutes, but he was ready. That’s the most important thing. We need to work on the individualities to help them improve, not just with the ball, but outside as well,” he added.

The former Manchester City and Chelsea goalkeeper emphasised that the club’s strategy is about long-term development rather than short-term hype.