Ancelotti: Brazil will keep monitoring Estevao despite Chelsea playing time

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti says Estevao remains important to his plans and will continue to be monitored even if he does not play for Chelsea.

Estevao Willian has recently returned to action for the English club after missing a period because of injury. He played 132 minutes across Chelsea’s past two Premier League matches, underlining his readiness to represent Brazil against Japan on Saturday.

Speaking in comments reported by UOL, Ancelotti said Brazil expected Estevao to demonstrate his full ability, regardless of how much he features for his club.

“What we expect from Estevao is for him to show his full potential. We will continue to monitor him even if he does not play a single minute for Chelsea,” said Ancelotti.

The former Chelsea manager added that Brazil would keep assessing the forward until he was no longer considered useful to the national team.

“We will continue to monitor Estevao until we decide that he is no longer useful to the Brazil national team,” he said.

Ancelotti stressed that Brazil’s priorities differ from those of Chelsea and that the player should be given time to develop.

“As long as we believe he is useful, we will continue to monitor him and give him the opportunity to develop as a player who is 19 years old. We have different objectives from Chelsea,” he added.

Estevao’s return to Chelsea’s first team before the current international break has provided the latest indication of his fitness. His involvement in the club’s last two Premier League games has also left him in contention for Brazil’s upcoming fixture against Japan.