Analysis: Neto's growing influence key to Chelsea's top-five push

Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 34.

Player analysis: Pedro Neto (Chelsea)

Chelsea have created some timely momentum heading into the top five run-in, coming from behind to pick up four valuable points in their last two matches.

Neto’s stunning late winner at Fulham was celebrated wildly last time out and they will be looking to build on that at home to Everton on Saturday lunchtime.

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The fixture with Everton feels like a must-win for Enzo Maresca’s sixth-placed side, with matches against Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest to come.

Is Neto Chelsea’s best hope of reaching UEFA Champions League?

Chelsea have so much forward quality at their disposal, but very few of their leading lights are in good form heading into the business end of 2024/25.

Since the start of February, across a combined 4,291 minutes of game time, Maresca’s nine most used attacking players have scored only eight Premier League goals between them.

Neto leads the way during this period with three goals and two assists.

How Chelsea attackers have fared since February 2025

The 25-year-old winger has gained the trust of Maresca in recent months, featuring for 90 minutes on numerous occasions.

He is able to play on either wing, or as a striker, and is a player Chelsea could lean on heavily in the final few matches of 2024/25.

Neto is taking on added responsibility with a number of his team-mates below their best form.

A threat on both flanks

One of Neto’s greatest strengths is his ability to play with equal comfort on the left and right wing.

We saw this last time out when he caused both of Fulham’s full-backs problems in an outstanding individual display at Craven Cottage.

Neto was very much Chelsea’s go-to player throughout that west London derby, registering eight touches in the opposition box, two key passes and three shots.

His ferocious strike to win the match, coming off the back of a neat swivel, took only 0.53 seconds to travel 15 yards, and was clocked at just under 60mph.

Bernd Leno had no time at all to react to a shot flew past him in a flash.

Neto's goal v Fulham

When you analyse how Maresca has utilised the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers man this season, it is clear he sees him as a utility forward.

While Nicolas Jackson was out injured the Italian head coach used Neto as a roving striker and on a half-by-half basis, he regularly plays the latter on different sides of the pitch.

In recent weeks Neto's form has dictated that he also spends far less time on the substitutes’ bench.

Neto's PL positions & mins played 24/25

What is his best position?

Neto tends to provide more of a goal threat coming in off the right flank to fire off shots with his left foot, just as he did against Fulham and in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal in November.

Neto's equaliser v Arsenal

In a creative sense there is no discernible difference to Neto’s output from the left or right flank though.

His pace tends to get him into advanced areas more often than many of his Chelsea team-mates, and from there he is willing to flash a stream of balls across the face of goal.

The shot assist map, below, tells the story of a player who is equally threatening on either side of the pitch.

Neto's pass/assist map 24/25

Key: blue star - assist, blue circle - shot on target, black circle - shot off target

Arguably Neto’s best assist of the campaign was at home to Newcastle United where he used his blistering speed to run in behind from a Cole Palmer pass, before crossing for Jackson to score.

Neto's assist for Jackson v Newcastle

Best crosser in the Premier League?

Neto’s perceived forte is sprinting down the wing, but we should not underestimate the quality of his deliveries.

At this stage of the season, it is Chelsea’s winger who has supplied the highest number of successful open-play crosses per 90 minutes.

The only other non full-back who comes close to his 1.57 is Fulham’s Adama Traore, so Neto may feel slightly aggrieved he has just four top-flight assists to his name this season.

With this level of output, he should be closer to double figures.

Top crossers from open play 24/25*

*Minimum 10 starts

Maresca will have learned that no one else in his squad can match the quantity of crosses that Neto consistently supplies.

With many of those centres coming from cutbacks or low balls whipped along the face of goal, Chelsea try to fill the penalty area with runners whenever he takes up possession out wide.

As shown below, he is by far their best provider from the flanks.

Chelsea's top open-play crossers 24/25

There is an added reliance on Neto to step up for Chelsea as star man Palmer is without a Premier League goal since 14 January.

Can Neto fire the Blues towards a top-five finish? It will not be easy, but he is in great form at just the right time.