Pedro Neto to miss Chelsea CWC QF due to Jota’s death, with Maresca allowing the player to take the decision to play.
Pedro Neto may miss Chelsea’s Club World Cup quarter-final after friend Jota’s death.
After Chelsea excused the winger from practicing due to the death of his friend and international teammate Diogo Jota, Enzo Maresca stated that he will let Pedro Neto choose whether he is prepared to play Palmeiras.
Together with the Liverpool and Portugal forward, Neto won the Nations League last month while playing with Jota at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
As Chelsea got ready to play Palmeiras in the Club World Cup quarterfinals on Friday, the atmosphere at their training camp was solemn. Maresca wasn’t sure if Neto would be in the right frame of mind to play, so she allowed him to miss the practice.
“It’s a very sad day,” Maresca said. “I struggle to find words, it is very difficult. You feel a little bit helpless in this situation. I can only say all my love to [Jota’s] family. It’s a big tragedy for them. In terms of Pedro, he is very sad. Probably more than sad. We are close to Pedro to support him.
“Because I didn’t see him in training earlier. It’s completely Pedro’s decision [to play]. I had a chat this morning with Pedro. We support him. Any decision he will take is the correct one.”
Marc Cucurella backed Neto, who has scored three goals during the tournament, to rise to the occasion if he plays.
“The manager and he must decide but it’s important that Pedro feels good,” the Chelsea left-back said. “Football is secondary but it’s a long day tomorrow and whatever they decide will be good. But right now he’s a player in form and I think Pedro can help us in this game.”
Chelsea have rallied around Neto. “In the morning he was sad and it was not his best moment,” Cucurella said. “But we tried to stay together and in the afternoon he was a bit better and I told him that if he’s going to play then he will score because that is destiny. Hopefully we can show his love and all the good friends that we are and dedicate the goal to him.”