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Ahead of Chelsea's weekend clash with Premier League champion Liverpool, Pedro Neto has issued an assertive message.
Arne Slot's team will head to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, following two consecutive losses. In contrast, Chelsea secured a 1-0 victory over Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday. An own goal in the first half was all that set the Blues apart from Jose Mourinho's Portuguese side in a match with few clear opportunities.
However, after being outplayed in their opening game at Bayern Munich, this win helped Enzo Maresca's players regain momentum following three defeats in four games across all competitions.
The only goal came in the 18th minute when Neto and Alejandro Garnacho forced midfielder Richard Rios to inadvertently send the ball past his own goalkeeper as it whizzed across the six-yard box.
"We learned a lot from the first game and we are really happy," Neto told Chelsea's website. "I think the team did really well.
"We knew the difficulties we had in the first game (3-1 loss at Bayern on September 17), and we tried to work hard to manage moments in this game. I think today we showed the resilience of the team.
"Benfica are a tough team to face at home. We knew we would have to work hard tonight. We played well, we could've controlled the match more with the quality we have, but we are really happy with the three points."
Chelsea had faced off against Bayern Munich and Harry Kane two weeks prior in its first Champions League game in more than two years, but despite a valiant effort, the Blues were let down by lapses in concentration and the superior experience of their opponents.
However, there were no such issues on Tuesday, as Chelsea navigated the media frenzy surrounding Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge and secured a victory with ease.
Head coach Maresca did have to contend with the downside of a third red card in four games, as Joao Pedro received his marching orders in the dying moments for a high challenge that resulted in a second booking. The striker will now be absent for the upcoming clash with Ajax at Stamford Bridge.
Yet, aside from that setback, it was a night of satisfaction for Chelsea, marking the club's first Champions League triumph since the team under Graham Potter's management defeated Borussia Dortmund back in March 2023.
For Neto, the win underscored his increasing value to the squad, especially given Maresca's injury woes before Saturday's Premier League face-off with Liverpool.
Levi Colwill, Liam Delap, Cole Palmer, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Wesley Fofana are among those injured, while Trevoh Chalobah is suspended.
Neto concluded: "I always try to improve and do the best for the team, and I think today we worked hard as a group, and we are really happy. It's a really important win. A win in this competition, the Champions League, shows what we can do, and I think we can do even better. We will be ready to play against Liverpool."
Those last eight words clearly reveal Neto's current mindset. The Portuguese international will be prepared for Liverpool, as will the rest of the Chelsea team.
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