Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has praised Estevao Willian after the Brazilian youngster delivered an impressive performance in the Blues' 2-0 Premier League victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

According to a report by Football London on Saturday, 31 October 2026, Alonso revealed that Estevao had been informed after Chelsea's defeat to Tottenham that he would start against Manchester United.

The 19-year-old winger justified his selection with an energetic display, creating attacking opportunities and giving United's defence plenty of problems before being substituted late in the contest.

Alonso was particularly pleased with the youngster's response after being given an opportunity to impress.

"He has had the best response to show that he deserves more, that he was prepared and that's what you want from a football player, so I'm very happy for him," the Chelsea manager said.

The Spaniard also revealed that Estevao came close to scoring and received an encouraging reception from the Stamford Bridge supporters.

"He deserved to enjoy his game, he had a good connection with the crowd. He was really close to scoring that goal," Alonso added.

The Chelsea boss explained that he had identified the Manchester United fixture as an opportunity for the Brazilian to make an impact, particularly because of the attacking situations he expected his team to create.

Estevao's performance comes at an important stage of his development, with the youngster looking to establish himself as a regular starter under Alonso.

Chelsea secured all three points through second-half goals from Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer, while United's afternoon became more difficult following Lisandro Martinez's dismissal.

The victory lifted Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, providing a timely response after their disappointing defeat to Tottenham.