“No one can sleep” - Pedro Neto on Chelsea squad after bold claim made by Enzo Maresca
Chelsea star Pedro Neto has admitted that no player can slack off under Enzo Maresca. The Portuguese attacker opened up about the need for a strong work ethic to maintain a spot in the starting XI at the club.
The Blues secured Neto's services from Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer for a reported £54 million. Neto has so far faced stern competition in his efforts to break into Maresca's starting lineup.
The 24-year-old has started four of the seven appearances he's made so far across competitions. He scored his first goal for the club in their 5-0 thrashing of Barrow in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday (24 September).
Speaking after the win at Stamford Bridge, Neto explained how Chelsea players must always be at their best given the quality of competition in the squad. He told reporters (via football.london):
"With the amount of quality that we have here, no one can sleep. As the coach has said, 'everyone will not play every game'. So we have to work hard and make for ourselves and continue to do it every weekend, every training session, every game. It's the mentality that I hope can take us to the top."
He added:
"Everyone has to work hard. When you arrive at a big club, it is a new adaptation. Maybe in Wolverhampton, I was going to play maybe 90% of the games. Here I have to work even more or maybe I'll not play because the coach will rotate the players. It makes you play even better because you know that you have to work. But even at Wolverhampton, if I was playing 90% of the games, I would go into every training session to be the best."
Neto has contributed a goal and an assist across competitions so far for Chelsea this term.
"At the moment, I’m not at my level" - Pedro Neto makes honest admission after Chelsea's EFL Cup win over Barrow
Pedro Neto has admitted that he hasn't yet shown his full potential for the west Londoners since his big-money move to Stamford Bridge. The Portuguese winger expects to return to his best form soon.
He said (via Metro):
"At the moment, I’m not at my level, but I’m getting there. I know that I will arrive at my top form and I will enjoy it."
The former Wolves forward also touched on the lingering repercussions of a hamstring injury that left him sidelined for two months at the end of last season. He added:
"I continue to work. I continue to work on my confidence, on my football, on the adaptation, and I hope to be [at full fitness] as soon as as I can."
Chelsea are currently fifth in the Premier League table, a point behind fourth-placed Arsenal. The Blues will next face Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (28 September).