It seemed to take Chelsea an age to get into gear last weekend as they took on lowly Wolves, but when the breakthrough finally came it was worth waiting for, writes Tim Harrison.
It was that Brazilian teenager Estevao who made the difference.
Hard to believe he was ‘only’ £29million from the Sao Paulo club side Palmeiras, although add-ons may eventually take that over £50m.
Still, his estimated resale value is now well over £100m, so Chelsea bought well.
He was brought on for Liam Delap after an hour’s play at the Bridge which, despite huffing and puffing, had only yielded one goal – a debut effort from defender Malo Gusto.
The new 18-year-old seems able to hurdle challenges and turn on the speed at will.
It was his sprint to the byeline and lightning pull-back that gifted Joao Pedro Chelsea’s second, rapidly followed by a third as Alejandro Garnacha outran pursuers to tee up Pedro Neto.
As we have another international break, the hope is that the Blues’ momentum will not be too seriously interrupted.
A double-header against Barcelona looms, with Chelsea Women playing them at the Bridge on Nov 20, and the men hosting Barcelona’s men five days later.
But after this blank Premier League weekend, the Blues travel to Burnley on the 22nd to face old boy Scotty Parker’s team at lunchtime.
Plenty of time, then, for Chelsea fans to practise their latest chant for Estevao.
It’s sung to the tune of the 1975 KC & The Sunshine Band’s That’s the Way I Like It (let no one accuse supporters of being too up to date with their choice of music), and the words are simply: Estevao, un-huh, un-huh, I like it, un-huh, un-huh.
Meanwhile, Cole Palmer is close to a return.
He was well enough to sashay into the press room before the Wolves game and leave with a plateful of roast potatoes!
