How Xabi Alonso has reshaped Pedro Neto into a productive wing-back
Pedro Neto scored twice from wing-back as Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, a performance that underlines the change in his role since Xabi Alonso took charge at Stamford Bridge.
Neto joined Chelsea from Wolves in 2024 for £54m and his conversion from winger to wing-back has drawn comparisons with Victor Moses, who switched positions under Antonio Conte and helped Chelsea to a 13-match winning run en route to the 2017 Premier League title. Chelsea did not regard Neto as untouchable during the summer despite setting an asking price of about £100m, and the player was among those frustrated after Enzo Maresca left the club on New Year's Day. Liam Rosenior replaced Maresca but lasted less than four months as Chelsea finished 10th.
Several squad changes and contract renewals have occurred since the end of last season, with Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Reece James and Moises Caicedo all signing new deals after committing to Chelsea's adjusted strategy of adding experience to the existing talent. Alonso's appointment appeared to help persuade players, though there were doubts about whether Neto welcomed a shift to wing-back and uncertainty over his future persisted until the transfer window closed.
Before Alonso's arrival Neto had produced 14 goals and 27 assists in 135 appearances for Wolves and 19 goals and 19 assists in 103 appearances for Chelsea; since Alonso took charge he has scored four goals and provided one assist in nine appearances this season, with three of those appearances coming from the bench—an increase the club describe as more than double his previous strike-rate. Chelsea are now deploying him on the right flank with greater attacking licence.
Statistical comparisons in the Premier League show Neto averaging 5.3 touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes this season compared with 3.6 last season, successful dribbles rising from 1.6 to 1.8 per 90, and his dribble success rate climbing from 43.5% to 52.6%. He is creating 2.0 chances per 90, up from 1.8, and his open-play chances created have gone from 1.5 to 1.8.
Defensively his workload has increased: tackles have risen from 0.7 to 2.0 per 90 and possessions won from 2.9 to 3.9 per 90, all in the Premier League. Neto has pointed to his athletic background—he grew up in a family of roller-hockey players—as a factor in his capacity to impact both ends of the pitch; he was tasked with man-marking Achraf Hakimi as Chelsea beat Paris St-Germain 3-0 in the Club World Cup final in 2025.
Alonso said of Neto: "You can call him whatever you want. Winger, wing-back, attacking player, defensive player. He can do many things. "Today he did well. He is very competitive and whenever he is close to the action he is a threat against any full-back." Alonso's asymmetric system does not demand the same attacking output from his left-sided wing-back—usually Jorrel Hato or Pep Chavarria—giving Neto more licence to drive forward. Off the pitch his teammates cite his humour: after Chelsea's 6-3 Carabao Cup win over Leeds, in which Neto scored, former Wolves team-mate Conor Coady asked him, "When have you ever been worried about conceding goals?" Neto replied, "Now I am a wing-back, lad." He added, "In my head, I always have to run back and help my defenders as well."
Last month Neto signed a new contract with Chelsea until 2032 after emerging as a key player under Alonso, and he has publicly backed the manager's project at the club.
