History is repeating itself at Chelsea. A decade after Victor Moses made the switch to wing-back and helped the Blues win the 2017 Premier League title, Pedro Neto is thriving in the same role under Xabi Alonso — and the numbers are startling.
Pedro Neto (Credits: BBC Sport)
Pedro Neto Wing-Back: The Victor Moses Effect
Ten years ago, Moses adapted to Antonio Conte’s then-innovative system and helped Chelsea reel off a 13-match winning run en route to the title. Now Neto, the £54m signing from Wolves in 2024, is the latest winger to benefit from the wing-back transformation.
Neto scored twice from wing-back in Chelsea’s 2-0 win at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday. Since Alonso’s arrival, he has scored four goals and provided one assist in nine appearances this season — more than double his previous strike rate — despite three of those appearances coming as a substitute. Before Alonso, Neto had managed just 19 goals and 19 assists in 103 appearances at Stamford Bridge.
Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea Project Winning Over Doubters
The turnaround is all the more remarkable given the summer uncertainty. Chelsea did not regard Neto as untouchable, setting a lofty £100m asking price, and the Portuguese was frustrated after Enzo Maresca left on New Year’s Day and Liam Rosenior lasted less than four months as Chelsea finished 10th. There were real questions about whether Neto relished the prospect of playing wing-back.
But Alonso’s appointment won players over, and last month Neto signed a new contract until 2032 after emerging as a key figure. The data backs it up: despite operating as a wing-back, Neto is averaging 5.3 touches in the opposition box per 90 (up from 3.6), his dribble success rate has jumped from 43.5% to 52.6%, and his defensive work has soared — tackles up from 0.7 to 2.0 per 90 and possessions won from 2.9 to 3.9 in the Premier League.
Chelsea are getting the best of both worlds — and a new Victor Moses.
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
