{"id":7493,"date":"2026-10-15T15:05:01","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T15:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=7493"},"modified":"2026-10-15T15:05:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T15:05:01","slug":"the-chelsea-player-that-makes-thiago-silva-really-happy-but-xabi-alonso-is-not-yet-convinced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=7493","title":{"rendered":"The Chelsea player that makes Thiago Silva &#8216;really happy&#8217;, but Xabi Alonso is not yet convinced"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-388252\">\n<div class=\"article-follow\">\n<div class=\"article-sharing google-follow is-native contentpass\"> <a class=\"fw\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=thechelseachronicle.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\" alt=\"\"\/> <span>Add to Preferred Sources<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>There is plenty to like about this Chelsea side. In just six Premier League games, the Blues have scored 15 goals. In all competitions, 24 goals. But Xabi Alonso is not yet using one of his biggest weapons.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Joao Pedro has eight goals and assists, as does Morgan Rogers. Indeed, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/analysis\/the-diego-costa-and-alvaro-morata-record-that-morgan-rogers-can-beat-as-chelsea-face-everton\/\">Rogers could make Chelsea history on Saturday<\/a> by becoming the quickest player to reach 10 goals and assists, in just nine matches.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-grvmedia-grv-video GRVMultiVideo\"\/>\n<p>Cole Palmer is fit again, Moises Caicedo is back, and the goalkeeping situation has been sorted out with the addition of Emi Martinez. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/news\/why-como-fans-are-fuming-with-chelsea-loanee-robert-sanchez-after-champions-league-defeat\/\">Chelsea fans were reminded of Robert Sanchez\u2019s blunders<\/a> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>But for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/tag\/estevao-willian\/\">Estevao<\/a>, things are not going to plan. The teenage winger is struggling to get regular game time, yet to start a Premier League game under <a href=\"http:\/\/thechelseachronicle.com\/club\/manager\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Alonso<\/a> \u2013 with his two starts coming against Luton and Leeds.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-thiago-silva-loves-watching-estevao-play-for-chelsea\">Thiago Silva loves watching Estevao play for Chelsea<\/h2>\n<p>It is a stark contrast to the start he made at Chelsea, ever since scoring against the Blues at the Club World Cup with Palmeiras. The goals against Liverpool and Barcelona feel like a bit of a distant memory.<\/p>\n<p>Alonso might not really understand the talent he has on his hands. Carlo Ancelotti has a different stance to Alonso on the Brazilian, who was an 84th-minute substitute during Saturday\u2019s 5-1 win v Bournemouth.<\/p>\n<section class=\"grv-talking-point\" data-trigger=\"vue-sidebar\" data-story-id=\"5a9c74ee-9dfb-4c17-80a3-f12c2bcadb5e\" data-story-name=\"Talk Chelsea\" data-comment-id=\"92bfe9ad-3f12-445e-a01f-60eacd653c1a\" data-story-slug=\"talk-chelsea\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__inner\">\n<header class=\"grv-talking-point__header\">  <\/header>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__content\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__cta\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-wrap\">\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__title-content\">\n<h3 class=\"grv-talking-point__title\">How can Xabi Alonso get Estevao Willian into the side? \ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n<p class=\"grv-talking-point__subtitle\">The Brazilian has seen very little action under his new manager\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grv-talking-point__embed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/Estevao-Willian-819x1024.png\" alt=\"Estevao Willian's minutes\" class=\"wp-image-384169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/Estevao-Willian-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/Estevao-Willian-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/Estevao-Willian-768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/Estevao-Willian-912x1140.png 912w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/Estevao-Willian-600x750.png 600w, https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/09\/Estevao-Willian.png 1080w\"\/><\/div><figcaption title=\"LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 06: Estevao of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League 2026\/27 match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on September 06, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)\">Photo by Darren Walsh\/Chelsea FC via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Chelsea posted a short documentary on Estevao on the club\u2019s app this week, and it included comments from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/tag\/thiago-silva\/\">Thiago Silva<\/a>. The Chelsea legend explained how watching his fellow countryman makes him happy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI believe this relationship among the Brazilians there helps a lot in this adaptation. Especially for an 18-year-old boy. He has his family, yes, but his family is not at the training ground every day,\u201d Silva said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI always follow Chelsea. To be honest, it makes me really happy when I see the fans sing his name as he arrives at the stadium, when he\u2019s warming up; the fans love the kid,\u201d Silva said of the Brazil international.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-chelsea-s-5-1-win-over-bournemouth-is-bad-news-for-estevao\">Chelsea\u2019s 5-1 win over Bournemouth is bad news for Estevao<\/h2>\n<p>Saturday\u2019s win over Bournemouth was excellent. But it was also proof to Alonso and his coaching staff that Chelsea are finally adapting to Alonso\u2019s way of playing, and that the 3-4-2-1 system will work.<\/p>\n<p>While this formation is deployed by Alonso, Estevao has little way in. Reports say <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/news\/estevao-has-one-major-issue-with-playing-for-chelsea-under-xabi-alonso\/\">Estevao is unwilling to add more physicality to his game<\/a>, which would allow him to compete for a place at right wing-back.<\/p>\n<p>Able to play as a no.10, Estevao is only going to get a chance in those roles if Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers pick up an injury. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/transfer-news\/chelsea-tell-barcelona-to-pay-111m-as-joan-laporta-makes-xabi-alonso-star-a-priority\/\">Barcelona are monitoring the situation with a \u00a3111m price tag<\/a> on his head.<\/p>\n<p>The one positive for Chelsea and, indeed, Estevao himself, is that he remains incredibly young and there is no rush to make a decision. He might face a season warming the bench, but Estevao deserves game time.<\/p>\n<div class=\"see-more-wrapper lazy see-more-open see-more-blank extra-content\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/news\/the-chelsea-player-that-makes-thiago-silva-really-happy-but-xabi-alonso-is-not-yet-convinced\/none\" data-type=\"subscribe\">\n<div class=\"see-more subscribe\">\n<figure class=\"newsletter\">\n<div><svg class=\"loading\" width=\"118\" height=\"36\" viewbox=\"0 0 118 36\"><use href=\"#dots-svg\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<div class=\"signup\"><span class=\"hf\">Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-follow\">\n<div class=\"article-sharing google-follow is-native contentpass\"> <a class=\"fw\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=thechelseachronicle.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\" alt=\"\"\/> <span>Add to Preferred Sources<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><script>grvLoadAnalytics = () => {(function(d,s,i){var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s);j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/www.googletagmanager.com\/gtag\/js?id=\"+i;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(document,'script','G-E7VRWQHDP6');(function(d,s,i){if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){var e=d.createElement(s);var n=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];e.type=\"text\/javascript\";e.async=true;e.src=\"https:\/\/static.chartbeat.com\/js\/chartbeat.js\";n.parentNode.insertBefore(e,n);}})(document,\"script\",\"G-E7VRWQHDP6\");(function(){let s=document.createElement(\"script\");s.async=true;s.dataset.domain=\"thechelseachronicle.com\/MFj4XQ\";s.src=\"https:\/\/api.publytics.net\/js\/script.manual.ping.min.js\";document.getElementsByTagName(\"head\")[0].appendChild(s);})();if(!\/callback=in\/.test(window.location.search)){setTimeout(function(){!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script','https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');fbq('init','663509325503632');fbq('track','PageView');fbq('track','ViewContent',{content_name:'The Chelsea player that makes Thiago Silva &#8216;really happy&#8217;, but Xabi Alonso is not yet convinced',content_category:'News',content_ids:[388252,\"estevao-willian\",\"thiago-silva\",\"xabi-alonso\"],content_type:'post',});},3000);}}<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thechelseachronicle.com\/news\/the-chelsea-player-that-makes-thiago-silva-really-happy-but-xabi-alonso-is-not-yet-convinced\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Add to Preferred Sources There is plenty to like about this Chelsea side. In just&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7494,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7493"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7493\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}