Pedro Neto: Chelsea’s new winger addition analysed

On August 9th, out of the blue, Fabrice Hawkins exclusively broke a story that lit up the football world - Pedro Neto was close to joining Chelsea after an agreement was reached with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Less than an hour later, Fabrizio Romano delivered his iconic "Here we go." By then, the Chelsea community was already in the grip of Neto fever, which only heightened when the Blues played Inter Milan in their final pre-season game, during which the Portuguese forward was introduced to the Stamford Bridge crowd at halftime.

In this detailed article, The Pride of London will analyze Chelsea’s latest winger addition – the Portuguese 'Iluminador' – Pedro Neto.

Wing Commander

Neto is a dynamic wide forward capable of playing on either flank, specializing in two vital areas: dribbling and chance creation.

When Neto drives with the ball at his feet, he is almost unstoppable. His low center of gravity, lightning pace, acceleration, ambidextrous footwork, and creative flair allow him to glide past opposition defenders with ease and create havoc.

Neto attempts a high volume of take-ons in every game. Although his efficiency rate may not be extraordinarily high, it remains impressive - allowing him to complete more than two successful take-ons on average each game.

A drawback worth noting is that Neto does not always have the most secure first touches - an area where he could improve. However, once he receives the ball and brings it under control, Neto is difficult to dispossess.

Stats from FBref support this observation. Neto’s 2.61 miscontrols per 90' place him in the 28th percentile among wingers, while his dispossession numbers of 1.19 per 90', ranking him in the 71st percentile compared to his positional peers in the 'Big 5 Leagues'.

Interestingly, compared to Chelsea's current winger options, Neto's pure dribbling output does not place him in a different class from Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk. So, how does he enhance Chelsea’s performance from the flanks?

Playmaker and Goal Scorer

The answer to that question lies in chance creation - not just in terms of raw output, but also in how it complements Chelsea’s right-winger, Madueke, who will likely be the starting right winger while Neto plays on the left. When comparing Neto and Madueke, the Englishman offers a greater threat in chance creation through dribbles.

The Portuguese international excels in dead-ball scenarios and shots, which is significant because Madueke has yet to establish himself as a goalscoring winger. Neto’s shot technique and goalscoring instincts also appear to be more polished than Madueke’s. Although Neto has not yet demonstrated superior goalscoring ability with Wolverhampton Wanderers, he has shown potential to develop into a goalscoring wide forward.

If you had a keen eye, you would have noticed that we did not discuss Madueke’s superior SCA (Shot-Creating Actions) from live passes. Why is that? Well, it requires a detailed statistical breakdown.

At first glance, Madueke’s 2.91 SCA from live passes (70th percentile) appears better than Neto’s 2.43 (46th percentile). However, we must consider the broader context, specifically the teams they play for.

SCA measures the creation of a chance when a player makes an action that leads to a shot. However, if the teammate does not take a shot, it does not count as a chance created. And Wolves' attackers last season did not take many shots.

Therefore, Neto’s lower SCA figure is not due to poor production but rather the lack of conversion by his teammates. This is evident in the data, as Neto excels in providing the killer pass (measured by passes in the final third, key passes, and expected assists) in the final third compared to Madueke, Raheem Sterling, and Mudryk.

Overall, Madueke is the better dribbler by a relatively fair margin, but Neto still remains a highly capable 1v1 specialist. Additionally, Neto excels as a chance creator from open play, is a better finisher in the final third, and offers additional qualities that will be discussed next.

The Complete Package

Another reason why Neto is an exciting addition to the Chelsea roster is that he provides a well-rounded threat. Let's break it down to three key areas:

Ball Progression

Neto is an effective ball progressor. Through his carries, as mentioned earlier, he is adept at shielding possession and helping his team advance up the field. Although he does not rely heavily on progressive passing, the presence of players like Enzo Fernandez, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Cole Palmer in the team should mitigate this limitation.

Set-Piece Delivery

Neto is also a capable set-piece deliverer, excelling in free kicks and corners. Last season, he created several chances from dead-ball situations, including a notable assist from a corner against Newcastle.

Positional Versatility

Due to his ambidextrous footwork, Neto can operate effectively on both flanks. This versatility is valuable as it adds depth to the squad and provides Maresca with more tactical options, which will be discussed later.

Tactical Fit

Suitable Profile

Firstly, Neto perfectly fits the profile of the winger Enzo Maresca desires. He meets the criteria in every regard and especially his capacity of playing as the touchline winger Maresca envisions. Furthermore, he is proficient at creating chances through cutbacks and whipped crosses. However, he may need to enhance his ability to make runs in behind when necessary.

Tactical Flexibility

Secondly, Neto's positional versatility includes his ability to rotate with the No. 8 in Maresca’s system. He is outstanding in the half-space channel and central zones, where he can provide incisive passes when needed. While we believe he can be utilized in these areas, given his proficiency as a winger and the abundance of central midfield options, this is unlikely to be a frequent use.

Additionally, Neto’s ability to play on both wings offers flexibility, allowing him to be used on either side throughout the season or even within a single game. This was a tactic Gary O’Neil employed effectively last season to test and probe both sides of the opposition’s defense.

Nevertheless, we expect Neto to play at left wing with Madueke occupying the right flank. Since they're the two best wingers at the club, we believe that will be Maresca's go-to wing duo.

The Game Changer

Neto has an innate ability to create something from nothing, much like Palmer. His knack for producing on-field magic can be the difference between a loss and a draw, or a tie and a win. In close matches, sometimes it’s not about tactics but about who can step up and deliver a decisive moment. Neto can do just that.

Final Thoughts

We are excited about this signing because we believe he has all the qualities to succeed. While his injury record is a concern, if Chelsea can keep him fit for most of the season, they are acquiring a top talent. He is, quite simply, the best alternative to Nico Williams.

This might be a bold statement, but his profile is similar to Eden Hazard. His dribbling and ball-carrying ability are reminiscent of the Belgian forward. Whether he can attain the status Hazard achieved remains uncertain, and at this point, it seems unlikely. However, the point remains that it’s possible.

Nevertheless, one thing that is certain is that Neto will make the Stamford Bridge crowd erupt.