Chelsea’s player ratings form their win over Crystal Palace on Sunday shows a team where 10 players for a rating above a 7 – and one player got just a 6.4.
That man was Pedro Neto, who had a pretty ineffective outing on the left wing. He had 26 touches, 0 accurate crosses, 0 touches in the opposition box, 50% dribble success, and just 2 of 9 duels won.
Chelsea winger losing his grip on guaranteed starting spot
Chelsea's player ratings against Crystal Palace.
Chelsea’s player ratings against Crystal Palace.
Neto has had that starting place locked down for a while now. For all his failings, both Enzo Maresca and now Liam Rosenior seem to really like the qualities he does have.
He’s fast and direct, and his pace threatens in behind. He also is an experience and intelligent presser, which helps keep him in the team in big games, and his ability to play on both sides means he earns even more chances.
However after another disappointing showing on the ball, his time is surely almost up as a guaranteed starter in our first team. Estevao has to play on the right now, and surely Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens are pushing Neto hard for minutes on the left. If one of them can just find some for, they surely see him off.
When Cole Palmer comes back, the competition gets even more intense, if Rosenior opts to use him wider.
In other news…
N’Golo Kante set some insane records for Chelsea in his time at the club, and that makes it all the more impressive that Andrey Santos broke one of them playing for the Blues at the weekend.
Joao Pedro has struggled for large parts of his debut season at Chelsea, but he made his case for more starts with a goal and assist yesterday for the Blues in a rare effective performance leading the line.
More Stories about Pedro Neto
Stamford Bridge generic.
Liam Rosenior on the touchline.
Alejandro Garnacho scores for Chelsea against Arsenal.