Pedro Neto might not play Chelsea’s Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras following the terrible loss of Diogo Jota.
After hearing about his friend’s passing in a vehicle crash on Thursday in Spain, the Portugal international who played alongside Jota at Wolves and for the national team did not train.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca validated that Neto will be free to decide whether he wants to play in the game, scheduled for Philadelphia Friday evening.
At his press conference, Maresca remarked, “It’s a very sad day. I struggle to find words because it’s very difficult. The feeling you have is of helplessness in this kind of situation.”
He added: “It’s completely Pedro’s decision. I had a chat with him and we support him. Any decision he will take is the correct one. It doesn’t matter if he’ll be on the pitch or not. We’ll see how he is feeling but, in any case, we’re going to support him.”
The Blues captain Reece James said the team had gathered around their colleague during the emotional day.
“It’s been a very difficult day for Pedro, obviously being close to Diogo, but we’ve been there to support him the best we can,” stated James. “It depends on his condition tomorrow on whether he will play or not.”
Marc Cucurella concurred with that sentiment and expressed his wish that Neto can appropriately honour Jota if he chooses to play.
“In the morning, he was a bit sad,” Cucurella revealed. “It’s not his best moment, but we try to stay with him, to stay together. I told him that if he’s going to play, he can score tomorrow. I think this is his destiny.”
He continued: “Hopefully we can show his love and how good friends we are tomorrow on the pitch — and dedicate the goal to him.”
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
