Enzo Maresca has proven to fans why they should trust him and his vision for the club and that's why many are having to bite the bullet over Estêvão. There is a massive desire from the Stamford Bridge faithful to see the Brazilian wonderkid be handed more game time.
The 18-year-old arrived in the summer from Palmeiras in an intial £29m (per BBC Sport) deal. He had received glowing verdicts in Brazil with some suggesting he was the biggest talent produced by the country since Vinícius Júnior.
Estêvão has been included in Maresca's first team at the start of his career with the Blues. But he isn't a starter, and that's something fans will have to get used to.
Maresca's Estêvão strategy must be trusted
Estêvão has started four of seven league outings, and he came up with the most important goal of Chelsea's season before October's international break. He fired in a last-gasp equaliser in a stunning 2-1 victory over Liverpool at the Bridge.
Many expected to see him start in the Blues' encounter with Nottingham Forest on Saturday off the back of that performance and winning strike. Maresca is still without Cole Palmer, and it feels as though the teenage sensation can help deal with the creativity absent when the England international is sidelined.
Maresca continued his slow phasing in of the Brazilian by resisting starting him at the City Ground. He was handed just 12 minutes off the bench in a 3-0 win, and his limited game time was perhaps the only head scratcher.
Estêvão needs time though because young talent can run into several issues if put under pressure of playing a lead role from the get-go. Fans need to remember he's only 18, and it's not often you see players of this age given consistent starting roles.
Maresca already answered fan queries over Estêvão's opportunities
Maresca already indicated that he is handling Estêvão's minutes to protect him especially to juggle his workload. He represented Brazil during the international break, and the Italian highlighted this (via Chelsea Dodgers on X):
"He has already started games with us. It's because he's come back from a long trip with Brazil, so we need to manage him. For sure, he will play."
Estêvão will know he has years ahead of him and that he will be an undisputed starter once Maresca feels he is fully settled. While not as young, the likes of Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández needed time adjusting, and it's important not to let fans get too carried away, so when he hits a slump, there isn't a massive reaction.