Chelsea’s Estêvão shone in the FA Cup Fourth Round match against Hull City, helping his team secure a convincing victory. The young forward celebrated his contribution to Chelsea’s third goal alongside teammate Andrey Santos during the match on February 13, 2026. Despite Pedro Neto’s impressive hat-trick performance, he did not win over the WAGNH Community, which favored Estêvão by a margin of about 10 percent in the fans’ voting.
Neto’s hat-trick was notable, but the community’s preference for Estêvão reflected a broader trend, indicating that consistency in form is key in winning support. This led to the decision to stick with a tactical formation that has proven successful under manager Liam Rosenior. The preferred 4-2-3-1 formation features a strong midfield presence with Moisés Caicedo and Andrey Santos holding central positions, while Enzo Fernández plays a more advanced role, often drifting to the left.
The fan poll reflected the following starting lineup: Sánchez leading the goalkeeping department, with Hato, Chalobah, Fofana, and James forming a sturdy backline. In midfield, Santos and Caicedo were favored, supported by Enzo, Palmer, and Estêvão up front. João Pedro was another popular choice, maintaining a strong presence with a voting percentage of 93%.
In terms of other contenders, Mamadou Sarr nearly made the starting XI after an impressive show in his full debut last weekend, while the remaining players, including Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong, and Liam Delap, garnered varying levels of support but did not reach double-digit percentages.
This analysis of player performances and the resultant tactical choices highlights the competitive spirit within the Chelsea squad, demonstrating the fans’ influence in shaping the team’s outlook. As the season progresses, the integration of young talents like Estêvão alongside established players promises to enhance Chelsea’s prospects in the tournament.