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, stated he had felt “anxiousness” and “butterflies in my abdomen” as he waits to complete his switch to Stamford Bridge subsequent month, in a deal agreed final June.
The winger performed 63 minutes in Philadelphia on Saturday, as Palmeiras beat Botafogo 1-0 after additional time to qualify for the quarterfinals.
“It is actually tough. It is like a dream that I’ll make come true,” Estêvão stated.
“I’ve to focus right here, I’ve to work, however it’s not straightforward. The nearer it will get, the extra anxiousness units in. However I am making an attempt to focus right here, to go away [Palmeiras] in the fitting method.”
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 understand the distinction between a human and an animal? What distinguishes one from the opposite? It is emotions, and feelings,” Ferreira instructed a information convention on Friday. “It is regular to be nervous in these sort 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 stated. And quite a lot 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 among the best younger abilities in South America, and made his senior debut for Brazil final September.