Chelsea Loss: Neto’s Assist & Goal Denies Victory | Premier League 2024

Chelsea’s recent Premier League match against Nottingham Forest, ending in a 3-0 victory, masked underlying concerns about the form of forward João Pedro, despite a dominant second-half performance spurred by Pedro Neto.

Neto, who joined Chelsea in August 2024, assisted Josh Acheampong for the opening goal and then scored himself, contributing significantly to the team’s turnaround after a challenging first half. However, statistics from the match reveal a stark contrast in performance between the two Chelsea attackers. While Neto demonstrated impact, Pedro’s performance was notably subdued.

According to FotMob data, Pedro had a mere 55 touches during the entire match, with only two touches occurring within the opposition’s penalty area. His one shot attempt went wide of the goal. His pass accuracy stood at 74%, and he failed to deliver a single accurate long ball. He won 40% of his ground duels and a mere 25% of his attempted dribbles.

The struggles of Pedro come after a promising start to his Chelsea career following a £60 million transfer from Brighton. Comparisons have been drawn between his playing style and that of former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino, but his link-up play against Nottingham Forest was effectively neutralized by the opposing defense. This performance contrasts sharply with his earlier contributions, where he had secured two goals and three assists in his first eight outings for the club.

Chelsea’s recent disciplinary record has as well been a source of concern for manager Enzo Maresca. The club has seen players sent off in three of their last four matches across all competitions, with Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah, and João Pedro all receiving red cards for separate offenses. This disciplinary instability adds to the challenges facing the team as they navigate a congested fixture list.

The team is currently dealing with a significant injury list, with Maresca reporting “seven or eight” key players unavailable for selection. This situation is compounded by defensive vulnerabilities, particularly in dealing with crosses, which have been exploited by opponents in recent matches. The defensive issues were evident in previous matches against Brentford, Manchester United, and in the recent game against Nottingham Forest, where Chelsea’s defense was repeatedly exposed at the far post.

Pedro Neto, currently valued at €60.00m, continues to be a key player for Chelsea, having joined the club in August 2024. The Portuguese winger’s contract with Chelsea is set to expire on June 30, 2031.