How Xabi Alonso has turned around Pedro Neto's Chelsea fortunes
In the summer, clubs around Europe were circling Chelsea for Pedro Neto's signature, with clubs like Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool all interested in signing the Portuguese international, but none came close to Chelsea's £100 million valuation, and although he was a valued member of Xabi Alonso's squad, Chelsea would have been willing to let him go if the right price was offered to them.
Although Neto was impressive last season in Chelsea's disappointing campaign, making 52 appearances and getting 20 goals and assists, he was never properly appreciated by fans, due to his hot and cold nature, either going through purple or bare patches.
The record signing of Morgan Rogers didn't help Neto's case in terms of staying at Stamford Bridge, due to the ex-Aston Villa man being able to play on the right, where Neto usually was situated, and because of the amount of money that Chelsea were spending, they would have had to offload some players.
But fast forward to this season, and Neto has undoubtedly been one of Chelsea's most crucial players this season, and his performance against Everton this weekend underlined his importance to how Chelsea and Xabi Alonso want to play this season, coming to the fore, scoring both of Chelsea's goals in a 2-0 win when the on-fire front three of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers all blanked.
Typically being deployed as a wing back under Alonso this season, or as shown at the weekend at times, a forward, with both of his finishes being something that an out-and-out number would have been proud of.
The main difference between Alonso's system and previous managers like Liam Rosenior and Enzo Maresca is that Alonso sets up in a three-at-the-back formation, whereas the others played a 4-2-3-1, with wingers instead of wingbacks, but at the Hill Dickinson on Saturday, Neto was deployed as a right winger as opposed to a right wing back.
But although Neto has had more off-ball responsibilities and running back towards his own goal, his attitude and willingness to do it has been impressive, when asked about Neto's development this season Alonso spoke about the specific set of skills that his player has and how useful it is to have someone like that.
You can call him whatever - winger, wing-back, attacking position, defending - he can do many things. Today he did well.
He is so competitive. When he is close to the action, he is a threat against any full-back. When he is on the last line or is in between, he connects well with the players around him - with Joao Pedro, with Cole.”
