Déjà vu for Chelsea: ten years after Victor Moses made a name for himself, the Blues have ingeniously accounted for their new dilemma in Pedro Neto. The Portuguese winger, on the brink of leaving the club for £100m last summer following a tough campaign and the sacking of Enzo Maresca, has reinvented himself under the watchful eye of Xabi Alonso.
In Chelsea’s recent 2-0 victory against Everton, Neto dazzled, netting a brace while playing as a right wing-back. The confirmation of his success comes with the signing of a new long-term deal until 2032 last month and the vocal support for Alonso’s project.
Statistics prove that under Alonso, Neto has become more effective than ever, with his contributions more than doubling. Although classified as a wing-back, his average touches in the opponent’s penalty area soared from 3.6 to 5.3 per 90 minutes. His dribbling stats improved as well, with successful attempts rising from 43.5% to 52.6%, alongside a slight increase in chances created from 1.8 to 2.0.
Meanwhile, his defensive duties have also seen a notable uptick: total tackles have increased from 0.7 to 2.0, while interceptions jumped from 2.9 to 3.9. Neto’s phenomenal athleticism shines throughout the flank, which was particularly evident during the Club World Cup final in 2025 when he effectively neutralised Achraf Hakimi in the 3-0 triumph over PSG.
Xabi Alonso employs an asymmetric approach: the left wing-back for the Blues (typically Yorrel Hato or Pep Chavarria) plays more conservatively, allowing Neto the freedom to push forward on the right. The player himself has embraced this new role wholeheartedly, responding with humour to queries about his defensive responsibilities in an interview with Sky Sports:
Now I’m a wing-back, mate. In my head, I’ve always got to track back and help my defenders.
