Chelsea’s hard-fought 4-3 victory over Tottenham on Sunday came at a cost as winger Pedro Neto picked up an injury, dealing a blow to the Blues’ momentum ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.
Chelsea Suffer Pedro Neto Blow Following Stunning Tottenham Triumph
Neto, who has been in scintillating form since joining the club, played a key role in Chelsea’s resurgence after an early wobble at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Despite Marc Cucurella’s defensive lapses allowing Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski to put Spurs ahead, Neto’s relentless energy and creativity helped the visitors claw their way back into the game.
Jadon Sancho’s stunning strike midway through the first half, set up by Cucurella, breathed life into Chelsea, turning the tide.
A second-half penalty from Cole Palmer, coolly dispatched after Moises Caicedo was brought down, gave Chelsea the lead before Enzo Fernandez’s thunderous effort made it 3-2.
Palmer’s second penalty looked to have sealed the points, but a late Heung-min Son strike made for a nervy finish.
Neto, however, limped off in the dying moments of the match, clutching his hamstring after an intense sprint. Initial assessments suggest a muscle strain, which could rule him out of Chelsea’s upcoming fixtures.
This injury compounds the frustration for Chelsea fans, as Neto was already unavailable for their next Premier League clash against Brentford due to suspension, having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Spurs.
The winger’s absence will now also cast a shadow over their crucial Conference League tie against Astana on Thursday.
While Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has the option to field Neto in Europe, his injury status could leave the team short of attacking options as they aim to secure a spot in the knockout stages.
Maresca acknowledged the setback, stating, “Losing Pedro is a blow. He’s been vital to our game, but we trust the squad to step up and keep our momentum going.”
Chelsea, now just four points behind Liverpool in the Premier League, will need to dig deep to navigate a challenging period without one of their star performers.
Fans will hope for a swift recovery for Neto as the Blues chase silverware on multiple fronts.
