We expected changes to Chelsea’s team for today’s game simply because it’s an early kick off following an international break. However we didn’t expect both Pedro Neto and Malo Gusto to be left out of the squad.
The hints were there – Neto left the Portugal camp after one game, and Gusto went to join up with the French Under 21 team and then returned immediately. But in both cases we expected the players to be back in time for this game.
Instead, both are out, and Enzo Maresca has been forced to make changes to his preferred team. Neto is replaced on the wing by his Portugal teammate Joao Felix, while Gusto joins fellow right back Reece James on the injury list, meaning Benoit Badiashile comes into the team. It’s still not entirely clear how that back four will shake out now.
Nizaar Kinsella of the BBC has responded to the changes, claiming that Neto has a knock from Portugal duty, and Gusto is out with illness. It’s a particular shame for Neto, who was just finding his feet as a starter under Maresca, and was coming into form, scoring the equaliser against Arsenal last time out.
Malo Gusto is out through illness. https://t.co/Av0WEASSwt
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) November 23, 2024
A realistic timescale for Gusto and Neto returns
Both sound like very minor issues, and we can certainly hope to see both back in the squad for the game against Aston Villa next weekend – the midweek matchup against Heidenheim in the Conference League can be put to bed without them.
If either misses the game next Sunday at Stamford Bridge, their issues will have had to have been a lot worse than we currently understand – although we’ll get a more detailed update from Maresca after the game is played.
