Chelsea fans are all speaking about Pedro Neto’s brace in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
All eyes were on Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers, who have been amazing in attack this season. However, none of the trio could find the back of the net.
Instead, it was Neto who turned out to be the match-winner after two second-half goals. In the right wing-back position, the 26-year-old has been thriving.
Going forward, Neto has created plenty of chances on the right and is also scoring goals. As well as that, though, he is also doing his defensive duties.
On Saturday, Neto made three successful tackles. No other player made more than the Portuguese, according to Sofascore.
It is early days, but Neto already looks to have mastered the right wing-back role. He is thriving in attack but is also fulfilling his defensive responsibilities.
To have made more successful tackles than most of Chelsea’s other defenders — Josh Acheampong also made three — was quite unexpected. With that being said, Neto always had some of the characteristics needed to carry out the defensive part of the wing-back role.
Neto has the pace and stamina to track back and help the rest of the backline. In his first few games, the Portugal international was getting caught out a bit, but there has definitely been a lot of improvement since then.
It perhaps went under the radar because of his two goals at the Hill Dickinson, but it is encouraging that Neto was able to make tackles. Xabi Alonso looks set on using this 3-4-2-1 formation, and wing-backs are obviously a huge part of it.
Alonso needs whoever plays in those positions to attack and defend well. So far, Neto is doing that.
Reece James is injured, but when the Chelsea captain returns, he is also an option. However, because of past hamstring injuries, Alonso may not want him to play in a position that requires so many high-intensity sprints.