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Pedro Neto helped change the game for Chelsea on Tuesday evening with the Portugal international scoring the Blues' second goal in a 3-1 victory over Cardiff City
It is something we've become far too accustomed to seeing this season. Enzo Maresca making changes at half-time. It seems that whenever Maresca makes wholesale changes to his Chelsea XI, he is forced to make at least one substitute at the break.
In fact, it has happened in nine games this season. Some of them, granted, have been to manage minutes - see Reece James being brought off at Burnley, for instance - but a lot of them have been because Maresca's initial plan was not working.
The win over Cardiff City on Tuesday evening was the latest example of the Italian having to tinker things in order for his team to prevail. Maresca fielded a front four of Marc Guiu, Jamie Gittens, Facundo Buonanotte and Tyrique George in south Wales, and in the first-half, the Blues lacked creativity and intensity in the final third.
So it was hardly surprising that Maresca turned to his trusted options from the bench at the half-time break. On came Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro. Less than ideal, of course, having to call upon two of your senior stars against a League One side, but Maresca was well aware things were not working in Cardiff.
They did end up changing the game. Garnacho scored twice in a 3-1 win, with Joao Pedro a little less involved but still playing a big part in Chelsea's second goal courtesy of Pedro Neto, a 66th-minute substitute. Neto has been Mr. Reliable this season for Maresca. The Portugal international has always been a really dangerous winger, and an absolute nuisance for any full-back to come up against, but this season he has added the killer touch in the final third.
In 23 appearances in all competitions, the 25-year-old winger has scored six goals and provided three assists. Neto helped change the game for Chelsea in their time of need, though Maresca would have liked the Portuguese winger to stay sat on the bench all evening-long in the Welsh capital, especially with a crucial trip to Newcastle United coming up in a few days’ time.
Only four players have clocked more than Neto's 1600 minutes this season, and while he still looks energetic and is showing little sign of fatigue, Maresca will be wary of potentially burning the former Wolves winger out this term. There is no doubting Neto will start at St. James' Park on Saturday afternoon, particularly with the news that Estevao Willian has been ruled out of the match due to a small muscular issue.
The good news is that Maresca was not forced to use the likes of Enzo Fernandez, James and Wesley Fofana from the bench on Tuesday evening. Marc Cucurella also got a rest with the Spaniard staying back at home to serve a one-match suspension after accumulating two yellow cards in the competition.
Bobby has been covering Chelsea since the summer of 2022. During that time, he has been front and centre in perhaps the club's most turbulent time with Roman Abramovich selling to Todd Boehly. He is a regular at press conferences and matches, where he has managed to speak to Enzo Maresca and numerous Chelsea players.
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