Pedro Neto admitted that “no one can sleep” at Chelsea due to the intense competition for places after completing a £54m transfer from Wolves.
The forward, who was brought in to bolster the London club’s attacking options, has quickly realized that securing regular game time at Stamford Bridge is no easy task.
With the rise of young talents such as Noni Madueke alongside big names like Jadon Sancho and Mykhailo Mudryk, Neto knows that the pressure is immense.
However, on Tuesday night, Neto made a significant impact, staking his claim for a regular spot in the Chelsea attack after he scored his first goal for the Blues in their emphatic 5-0 victory over Barrow in the Carabao Cup third round.
He was used by Maresca on the right wing, while Mudryk slotted in at the left flank with Christopher Nkunku leading the lines.
Reflecting on the competition within the squad, Neto told reporters that, “With the amount of quality that we have here, no one can sleep. As the coach has said, ‘Everyone will not play every game.’
“So we have to work hard and push ourselves every weekend, every training session, every game.
“That’s the mentality that can take us to the top.”
He added: “Everyone has to work hard.
“When you arrive at a big club, it is a new adaptation.
“Maybe in Wolverhampton, I was going to play maybe 90% of the games.
“Here I have to work even more or maybe I’ll not play because the coach will rotate the players.
“It makes you play even better because you know that you have to work.
“But even at Wolverhampton, if I was playing 90% of the games, I would go into every training session to be the best.”
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Neto missed Chelsea’s pre-season in the United States, meaning he still has work to do to build his fitness levels.
However, he remains determined to improve and contribute to the team’s success.
“I continue to work,” Neto said on his fitness.
“I continue to work on my confidence, on my football, on the adaptation, and I hope to be [fully fit] as soon as I can.
“I’m settling in really good. I needed time.
“I needed the pre-season.
“Also, I went to the European Championship without playing many games.
“But I am here.
“I am working hard to get into my best shape.
“And I will continue to work to give happiness to this club and to bring this club to where it deserves to be.”
Read more: Chilwell Sends Message To Fans After Making Chelsea Return
However, Neto happens to be a key player under Maresca and has featured in every single Premier League game this campaign.
His strike against Barrow will further boost his morale and will hope to keep his starting berth when the Blues host Brighton on Saturday.
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