Pedro Neto was Chelsea’s top-scoring winger in the Premier League last season, but he has not found the net since early December. Often deployed on the right side of the attack, his end product frustrated fans as his responsibilities evolved away from his strengths.
A potential adjustment could see Neto take on a deeper starting position and operate frequently in advanced wide areas, leveraging his pace and attacking instincts. This approach mirrors how his national team has used him at the World Cup, where Neto has already contributed with an assist in Portugal’s draw with DR Congo.
One possible fit is left wing-back, a role that has become more prominent for the club as they search for a replacement for Marc Cucurella, who spent the latter part of the 2025/26 season functioning as a wing-back rather than a traditional full-back. While Cucurella’s successor will need to bring goals and creativity from wide areas, Neto’s pace and willingness to push forward could make him an effective fit.
The idea of a wing-back position is supported by previous examples of players thriving in attacking wing-back duties. For example, in a wide-back system, a manager can deploy a more progressive left-back to combine with an advanced winger, creating overloads and goal-scoring opportunities from the left flank. In this arrangement, Neto would not only stay involved in build-up play but also contribute with runs into advanced zones to deliver crosses or cut-backs.
Chelsea already has roster considerations to manage, including the development of young talents who may compete for minutes in wide positions. Bringing Neto into an attacking wing-back role could provide a bridge between experience and youth, giving the squad a versatile option who can influence games from both wide channels and the final third.
In summary, Neto’s best path to long-term security at Chelsea may lie in redefining his role as an attacking wing-back. If he embraces this position, he could maximize his pace and dribbling ability, add a significant creative and goalscoring threat from wide areas, and become a valuable asset in the team’s tactical setup for the upcoming season.
