Portugal Boss Backs Chelsea Winger for Breakthrough Performance
Portugal national team manager Roberto Martinez has expressed strong confidence in Chelsea's £54 million winger Pedro Neto, suggesting the talented forward is poised to reach another level in his development. The comments come just days before Chelsea's crucial Premier League clash against London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Adaptation Process Key to Neto's Progress
Martinez, who manages Neto at international level, believes the 25-year-old is still adapting to the demands of playing for a club of Chelsea's stature. Since his £54 million transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2024, Neto has made 89 appearances for the Blues, scoring 19 goals across all competitions.
'He's been adapting to the number of games Chelsea play because a game every three days is tough for him,' Martinez explained during an appearance on The Overlap. 'He's still young and he had a big injury when he was younger. I think he's still adapting but the moment he can play three games a week he will have that influence in every game.'
Contrasting Styles: Neto Versus Chelsea Legends
The Portuguese manager drew interesting comparisons between Neto's playing style and that of Chelsea legend Eden Hazard, whom Martinez coached during his tenure with the Belgian national team. While Hazard was known for his ability to pause the game and create one-on-one situations, Martinez describes Neto as a completely different type of winger.
'Hazard would stop the game and find his one vs one, he had that pause,' Martinez noted. 'Pedro Neto is the opposite, he will accelerate the game. Neto can play on both wings, when he plays on the right he comes inside but it's not going to be a slow action like it sometimes was with Eden. They are different players.'
Recent Form and Upcoming Challenges
Neto's recent performances have been mixed, with the winger scoring three goals in Chelsea's 4-0 FA Cup victory over Hull City but failing to find the net in Premier League action since early December. Despite this, Martinez remains optimistic about Neto's potential impact, particularly highlighting his performance in Chelsea's Club World Cup final victory.
'He's a vertical player, someone who can open the game up,' Martinez emphasized. 'I thought he was the main player to open the space for Cole Palmer in the Club World Cup final. His intensity was incredible.'
Crucial London Derby Looms Large
Chelsea currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, three points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, making Sunday's match against league leaders Arsenal particularly significant. The Blues have already been eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Arsenal this season, falling to their London rivals in the semi-finals.
Football pundit Paul Merson has weighed in on the upcoming clash, suggesting Chelsea face a difficult challenge at the Emirates. 'We saw in the Carabao Cup how Chelsea parked the bus but they can't afford to do that again,' Merson told Sportskeeda. 'They have to go for it in this one. Chelsea let in a goal every week without fail! It was a really bad result against Burnley last weekend.'
Merson added: 'I expect Chelsea to be a threat but I can't see them keeping a clean sheet in this game. Apart from one or two winnable games, all of the upcoming fixtures till the end of the season will be a huge challenge for Chelsea.'
Neto's Chelsea Contributions So Far
Since joining Chelsea, Neto has played a significant role in the club's recent successes, helping the Blues qualify for the Champions League last season and lift the Conference League trophy. He was also part of the Chelsea squad that won the Club World Cup during the summer, contributing to what has been a productive period for the west London club despite their current league position.
As Chelsea prepare for their crucial match against Arsenal, all eyes will be on whether Neto can translate his manager's confidence into a match-winning performance that could significantly impact both the London derby and Chelsea's push for Champions League qualification.
