Chelsea forward Pedro Neto is in mourning following the death of his close friend and former Wolves teammate, Diogo Jota. Jota, a Liverpool forward, and his brother tragically died in a car accident in northwestern Spain on July 3rd. Their Lamborghini reportedly veered off the road and caught fire.
Neto, understandably devastated by the news, was excused from training but has remained with the Chelsea squad in Philadelphia for the Club World Cup. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has stated that Neto will decide whether he feels able to play in the quarter-final match against Palmeiras on July 4th. Maresca emphasized that the club will fully support whatever decision Neto makes. "It's a difficult moment. You feel helpless," Maresca said. "Pedro is more than sad, and we are all here to support him. Any decision he makes – whether to play or not – is the right one, and we will back him fully".
Neto's potential absence introduces uncertainty into Chelsea's lineup as they prepare to face Palmeiras. However, Neto has been a standout player for Chelsea during the Club World Cup, scoring in both games against LAFC and Flamengo. He has expressed his enjoyment in playing in the tournament and has stated that the team should be appreciative of the opportunity to compete. "We have to be thankful. We are here playing this tournament. There would be a lot of players that would love to be in my place and in the other place. We have to enjoy it," Neto said. He also believes that Chelsea must work "even harder" if they want to win the Club World Cup.
In the face of fierce competition for a place in Chelsea's starting XI, Neto started 13 of the Blues' final 14 Premier League matches, as well as their UEFA Conference League final win over Real Betis.
The upcoming match against Palmeiras also has an interesting subplot: Chelsea will face Estevao Willian, an 18-year-old Palmeiras winger who is set to join Chelsea after the tournament. Chelsea agreed to a deal to sign Estevao last year. Estevao admitted that the move has been an emotional distraction as he balances playing his final games for Palmeiras while thinking about his future with Chelsea. However, Maresca dismissed any suggestion that Estevao's impending transfer would influence Chelsea's preparations. "When we prepare for games, we prepare for the team, not for one player," Maresca stated. "Estevao is a Palmeiras player right now. I've never spoken to him, though I've met his family. Now is not the time to discuss the future".
Chelsea faces Palmeiras on Friday evening (2am Saturday UK time) at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field.
