Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said he is lucky to be able to pick between Cole Palmer and Estevao Willian to play at number 10 and hinted the pair could be deployed together.
Palmer started Wednesday’s defeat to Bayern Munich on the right wing with Enzo Fernandez at 10 and Estevao limited to a late cameo, but the 18-year-old can also play in the position behind a striker.
He has started twice since joining from Palmeiras, in August’s 5-1 win away against West Ham when he was drafted in minutes before kick-off to replace Palmer – who was injured in the warm-up – and in the 2-0 win at home to Fulham.
He impressed at the London Stadium playing on the right, turning in a man of the match display and setting up a goal for Fernandez as the Blues earned their biggest league win under Maresca.
Still, the head coach urged caution as the teenager takes his first steps in the Premier League.
“Estevao can be great in all the attacking positions because his talent is very good,” he said. “He’s a top player.
“But at the same time he’s 18 years old so he needs time a little bit. I think both (Palmer and Estevao) can play wide, both can play as a 10 and I feel very lucky to have both of them with us.”
Maresca is wary of the threat posed by a wounded Manchester United when the teams meet at Old Trafford on Saturday.
United are fresh from a 3-0 humbling at the hands of Manchester City as their awful start to the season continued.
Ruben Amorim’s side are 14th with just one win from their four matches, which came from a stoppage-time penalty at home to newly promoted Burnley.
“The desire to win this game, when you struggle you are always that the next one is the one you want to win,” said Maresca. “Against Chelsea at home, in front of their fans, they are all reasons.”
Chelsea are without a win at Old Trafford since 2013 when Juan Mata scored the winner for the side managed by Rafael Benitez, in what was Alex Ferguson’s penultimate home game in charge.
“It’s always difficult to play United away,” said Maresca. “I don’t think that now is the right moment or next year will be the right moment.
“It’s a difficult team and a difficult stadium. Some of the games were not a real result, even the City game. Until 2-0, they were in the game. When the game was 0-0 they had a few chances. It will be a tough game, no doubt.”
This is just the second season since 1990 that United have not had European football.
Chelsea by contrast will run out at Old Trafford less than 72 hours after losing 3-1 to Bayern in their first Champions League outing in nearly two-and-a-half years.
“I prefer to play in the Champions League, no doubt, but the reality says they had one entire week to prepare (for) the game,” said Maresca. “We played 48 hours ago.”
