Pedro Neto scored for Chelsea tonight as he and the rest of the B team put in a good performance against Gent in a 4-2 win.
His comments to TNT Sport after the game were positive, as you’d expect from a player trying to earn his first team place in a really competitive team:
“We put in a really good performance. We came here against a good team. We did a really good job. We conceded two goals but it doesn’t take away from the performance,” the winger said.
“We knew we wouldn’t be in control of the whole game. You have to suffer sometimes. These nights will be difficult because to play at Chelsea is really important for teams,” the former Wolves winger concluded.
Neto faces tough battle for first team places – but has two big assets to offer
It’s going to be a very tall order for Neto to earn his place in the first team back while they’re playing so well. Jadon Sancho has grabbed the chance to play on the left with both hands, and has assisted in every game he’s played so far. It will be a battle to earn that spot back.
The advantage Neto has, as we saw today with his goal, is his explosiveness and pace. He offers the total opposite to Sancho’s tight, technical style, which means we can see Maresca turning to him often in the right circumstances.
He’s also capable of playing on the right, which is where his goal came from tonight. That doubles his chances of breaking into the first team, because an injury or a drop-off in form from Madueke or Sancho would get him in.
When he does finally get that chance, he will be ready to go after all these performances for the second team keeping him warn.
