Enzo Maresca cautions Chelsea player about falling short of the expected goal tally.
Chelsea are preparing to take on Everton at Stamford Bridge this Saturday in what is considered a crucial match if they wish to remain strong contenders in the race for a top-five finish and secure a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League. At the moment, Chelsea sit sixth in the Premier League standings, trailing third-placed Manchester City by only four points — meaning every match now carries significant weight.
In their previous game last weekend, Chelsea, under manager Enzo Maresca, appeared to be on the verge of dropping valuable points against Fulham. However, young forward Tyrique George managed to score a late equaliser, keeping Chelsea’s hopes alive. Shortly afterward, Pedro Neto struck with a dramatic goal deep into injury time, completing a thrilling comeback and securing a much-needed 2-1 victory for the Blues.
Since arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer for a transfer fee of £51 million, Pedro Neto has generally been impressive in terms of his overall gameplay and contribution to the team’s attacking flow. Nevertheless, in terms of finishing, he has fallen short of expectations, scoring just four goals in league play — a tally far below what Maresca had hoped for from him.
Reflecting on Neto’s impact, Maresca shared, “Pedro has certainly been a key player for us, particularly during periods when Nico Jackson was unavailable to lead the line. However, I believe that our wingers should be contributing more in terms of goal output. Ideally, I expect each of them to score around ten goals over the course of the season, considering the number of opportunities they have during matches.”
Among Chelsea’s wingers, Noni Madueke has come the closest to reaching this goal-scoring target, having found the back of the net seven times in league fixtures. However, it is worth noting that Madueke has only scored twice since the Christmas period. Neto is not the only winger who has struggled to maintain consistent scoring form; other players across the league, such as Jadon Sancho and Mykhailo Mudryk, have also faced similar challenges in front of goal.
As for Neto’s role in the upcoming match against Everton, there is some uncertainty regarding his inclusion in the starting lineup. Maresca admitted that Neto has not always been deployed in his most effective position. “Pedro tends to perform better when operating on the right wing,” Maresca explained, “but due to circumstances within the team, we have sometimes had to position him on the left side. Nonetheless, he has shown good adaptability and has continued to work hard.”
The manager also took a moment to commend the healthy competition developing among his wide players — Neto, Madueke, and Tyrique George. Maresca emphasized that the trio are pushing one another to improve through their consistent efforts and high standards during training sessions, which he sees as a positive sign for the team’s progress.
