Pedro Neto is yet to justify Jose Mourinho’s outlandish claim ahead of Chelsea vs Benfica

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Chelsea star Pedro Neto is set to go up against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica side in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

In the build-up to the game, Mourinho has been very complimentary about Neto, perhaps a bit too much.

The winger was one of Chelsea’s standout players during the Club World Cup and is rated quite highly in England. Wayne Rooney does not think Neto should have been substituted in Chelsea‘s recent defeat to Manchester United, feeling that he could have made a difference for them, even with 10 men.

However, Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters will be questioning Mourinho’s praise of the player.

• READ MORE: Pedro Neto seems to disagree with Enzo Maresca’s recent Chelsea tactics, ‘have to do much better’

Why Pedro Neto isn’t one of the best wingers in the world yet

For Mourinho, his compatriot is right up there with the top wide men in the game. When Mourinho discussed Neto in his pre-match press conference, he said: “One of the best wingers in the world.”

On his day, the 25-year-old certainly is a dangerous attacker, and he has come up with some big goals for Chelsea since joining them from Wolves last summer.

He scored an important winner for the Blues against Fulham towards the end of the 2024/25 campaign and managed to net three times at the Club World Cup.

However, Neto does not find the back of the net often enough to be considered one of the best wide attackers in the world.

For example, the Portuguese only scored four goals in 35 Premier League appearances last season, while his overall record at Wolves was not outstanding either.

What makes the likes of Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka so elite — two players who start in the same position as Neto — is their efficiency in front of goal. Neto needs to up his output if he wants to be put in the same bracket as those two.

Pedro Neto hints at Jose Mourinho link up in the future

Ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Benfica, Neto has also spoken about Mourinho.

The Portugal international has made it clear that he would love to work under the Special One one day.

“It would be a privilege to be managed by Jose Mourinho, who wouldn’t want to be managed by him?” Neto told BBC Sport and other outlets.

Chelsea were ruthless over the summer, getting rid of both Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke. If Neto does not improve his goalscoring and prove that he is one of the best wingers in the world, maybe Chelsea will give him the chance to work with Mourinho at Benfica.