Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreria defended Estêvão on Friday after the younger star admitted feeling nervous forward of his transfer to Chelsea.
Chatting with reporters earlier this week, winger Estêvão, 18, mentioned he had felt “nervousness” and “butterflies in my abdomen” as he waits to finish his swap to Stamford Bridge subsequent month, in a deal agreed final June.
Palmeiras play rival Brazilian aspect Botafogo on Saturday within the Membership World Cup spherical of 16 at Lincoln Monetary Subject, Philadelphia.
“It is actually tough. It is like a dream that I will make come true,” Estêvão mentioned.
“I’ve to focus right here, I’ve to work, but it surely’s not straightforward. The nearer it will get, the extra nervousness units in. However I am attempting to focus right here, to depart [Palmeiras] in the correct approach.”
Estêvão’s admission led to some criticism from Palmeiras followers and native media, claiming it confirmed he was distracted from the membership’s marketing campaign within the event.
“You realize the distinction between a human and an animal? What distinguishes one from the opposite? It is emotions, and feelings,” Ferreira informed a information convention on Friday. “It is regular to be nervous in these form of video games, to really feel extra anxious.
“It is regular for a boy who had a dream that is turning into a actuality. It is regular that [Estêvão] feels that. He is an 18-year-old child, he was naive to say what he mentioned. And plenty of you [the press] slaughtered him, which is what you do to gamers.”
Estêvão began all three of Palmeiras’ Membership World Cup group video games in opposition to Porto, Al Ahly and Inter Miami, offering three assists.
He’s rated as probably the greatest younger skills in South America, and made his senior debut for Brazil final September.