Estevao Willian opens up on Chelsea start, claims one key Premier League trait "not fundamental"

Chelsea winger Estevao Willian has revealed that he has been left surprised by the amount of opportunities that he has been receiving from Enzo Maresca.

The transfer of the teenager from Palmeiras to Stamford Bridge had been in the offing for more than a year before he was eventually confirmed as a Blues player in July.

Given the amount of football that he has already played in his career and the adaption process that is usually required when South American players move to the Premier League, it seemed plausible that the 18-year-old may be left out for the opening weeks of the season.

Instead, Estevao has already made two starts and one substitute outing in England's top flight, as well as providing an assist against West Ham United.

Estevao has since gone on to score his first Brazil goal during the international break ahead of trying to make a sustained impact with the West Londoners.

What has Estevao said on life at Chelsea?

Speaking in an interview with Globo Esporte, Estevao acknowledged that he did not expect to have received 181 minutes of Premier League football at this stage of his time with Chelsea.

He said: "It’s been very quick, and I’m already having a lot more opportunities than I expected at Chelsea. That’s because of the work I’ve done in training. Maresca trusts me a lot, and I try to repay that on the pitch."

Estevao was also quizzed on whether he had plans to bulk up to try to cope with the demands of the Premier League, yet the starlet insisted that would not necessarily be the case.

"The intensity of the games and the style are very different. In England it’s more physical, more intense. I’m still adapting, but thanks to God it’s all working out..

"It’s important to gain muscle, but not fundamental. I prefer to improve my speed and my style of play."

What next for Estevao?

Estevao is currently preparing for Brazil's World Cup qualifier away in Bolivia, a fixture that will take place in the early hours of Wednesday morning (BST).

There will then be just three-and-a-half days before Chelsea square off against Brentford in the Premier League, the likelihood being that Maresca will consider dropping Estevao to the substitutes' bench.

The following week, Chelsea go up against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Manchester United in the Premier League.