Alejandro Garnacho: Is the former Manchester United star back to his best at Chelsea?

On Saturday, Chelsea finished second in the Premier League table.

The Blues have played one more game than Manchester City, Liverpool and Bournemouth, who all play on Sunday, but a win before the international break leaves a positive feeling around the club.

Chelsea are also the division’s top scorer with 21 goals from 11 matches, but that statistic was hard to believe during a slow-paced first half.

“I was very nervous before this match,” Mareska said. “These are the worst matches, they are difficult. Everyone thinks it will be easy.

“I can understand that in the first half people were not happy because we didn’t score. Then when Estevao came the energy increased because people like this type of player.”

The 18-year-old Brazilian has been largely restricted to substitute appearances in the Premier League as he adapts to English football.

Maresca said this week that the young man, who moved from his homeland in the summer, had complained about the cold weather in London, and the manager had warned him to expect it to get worse before it gets better on that front.

“You can see his talent,” said Maresca of Estevao. “We are trying to help him adapt and give him the right minutes.

“He arrived from Brazil, and he needs time to adapt, but he will start with us in matches in the future.”

Chelsea next face a trip to Turf Moor after the international break to face Burnley on 22 November.

They remain in the EFL Cup, where they were apparently drawn away to League One’s Cardiff City in the quarter-finals, and have an impressive home game against Barcelona in the Champions League three days after the Burnley test.

Star striker Cole Palmer is set to return from injury in December, which could provide an extra boost as Chelsea aim to qualify for the Champions League by finishing in the top four or at least top five this season.

Maresca’s ‘difficult’ message to Jarnacho is reflected in his broader vision of how Chelsea can achieve their goals.

“Internally, we are convinced that, as a team, we are moving in the right direction and doing good things. At the same time, we can do many things better,” he said.