![\"Cardiff](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2252266117.jpg\")
\n\t\tEstevao will miss Chelsea\u2019s trip to Newcastle in the Premier League (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tEstevao will miss Chelsea\u2019s trip to Newcastle in the Premier League (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
Enzo Maresca<\/a> has confirmed that Estevao<\/a> will be unavailable for Chelsea<\/a>\u2019s upcoming clash with Newcastle<\/a> in the Premier League due to a muscle problem.<\/p>\n Having come on as a substitute against Everton<\/a>, Estevao was left out of Maresca\u2019s matchday squad on Tuesday night as Chelsea defeated Cardiff City 3-1 to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals.<\/p>\n Alejandro Garnacho completed a second-half brace after he was introduced at the break along with Pedro Neto, who scored the visitors\u2019 other goal at the Cardiff City Stadium.<\/p>\n But news of Estevao\u2019s injury setback took some of the gloss off an otherwise positive evening for the Blues. The 18-year-old forward has shone in his debut season for the club, racking up five goals and an assist in his 21 appearances.<\/p>\n Moises Caicedo<\/a>\u2019s suspension for the first leg of the semi-final was another slight annoyance for Maresca, with the midfielder booked for sarcastically applauding the referee in the Welsh capital.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGet your football fix\t\t\t<\/p>\n Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro’s football experts sent straight to your inbox \u2013 sign up<\/a>, it’s an open goal.<\/p>\n Maresca\u2019s men will learn their opponents for the semi-finals when the draw is made following Wednesday\u2019s two quarter-final ties.<\/p>\n Asked why Estevao had not featured against Cardiff, Maresca told reporters: \u2018It\u2019s a small problem, a muscle problem.<\/p>\n To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web \t\t \t\t \u2018He won\u2019t be available for Newcastle. We will see for the next one.\u2019<\/p>\n Maresca made sure to praise his substitutes, who came on and provided some added impetus after a goalless first half between Chelsea and their League One opposition. <\/p>\n \u2018These are the kinds of games where I fall in love even more with the players,\u2019 the Italian said.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s very easy to slip, to slide, because these are tricky games. Cardiff are very well organised and very intense. <\/p>\n \t\t \u2018We expected this game, knowing Ty [George] is not playing a lot, [Marc] Guiu is not playing a lot and Facundo Buonanotte<\/a> not playing a lot.\u2019<\/p>\n On the importance of giving Chelsea\u2019s more peripheral squad members minutes, Maresca added: \u2018They are not playing a lot and they need physical condition and minutes to be there. <\/p>\n \u2018We were very good off the ball in the second half but we struggled to create chances.\u2019<\/p>\n Having hinted at a potential rift behind the scenes<\/a> at the weekend, Maresca thanked Chelsea\u2019s travelling fans for the support they showed him in Cardiff. <\/p>\n Asked for his reaction to Chelsea supporters singing his name in the away end, Maresca said: \u2018I\u2019m happy. We\u2019re going to play another semi-final. It\u2019s what the fans deserve. <\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s a great moment [the fans chanting his name] and I appreciate it. The support, they have always been there.\u2019<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Arrow Arrow Arrow
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Atalanta](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2251023288_0f2efc.jpg\")
\n\t\tEstevao came off the bench in Chelsea\u2019s previous clash with Everton (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Cardiff](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2252266938.jpg\")
\n\t\tGarnacho scored twice as Chelsea prevailed in Cardiff (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Cardiff](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2252265002.jpg\")
\n\t\tNeto was also on the scoresheet after coming off the bench (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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