Chelsea were not at their electric best when they faced Benfica in the Champions League, however Joe Cole was full of praise for one player for his performance.
Enzo Maresca’s side won 1-0 up in Jose Mourinho’s first European game in charge of the Portuguese side, with them holding on with 10 men late again.
For the third time in four games, a Chelsea player saw red as Joao Pedro was sent off despite only coming on the pitch in the second half.
Alejandro Garnacho’s cross was put in his own net by Richard Rios for the only goal of the game, however it was another attacker whose performance caught the eye of many.
Joe Cole hails Pedro Neto as Chelsea’s ‘unsung hero’
Pedro Neto had the better of his opponent for the entire 90 minutes, and was a constant threat when cutting in from the right wing.
His performance was praised by many, including Cole, who described him as Chelsea’s ‘unsung hero’ during coverage for TNT Sports.
He said: “He’s been brilliant. He’s the unsung hero in this team. Any Chelsea fan will tell you, he delivers. He’s always positive, always making stuff happen, that’s a wonderful ball. Garnacho does very, very well, but it’s the story of Neto. He’s been Chelsea’s best player.”
It has been a very strong start to the season for the Portugal international, something which had been slightly forgotten due to the chaotic nature of Chelsea’s last two Premier League games.
Neto proves Mourinho right
Another character who has been very impressed by Neto of late was in the opposite dugout at Stamford Bridge for this game.
Mourinho had praised Neto before the game, describing him as one of the best wingers in the world.
His start to the season has seen him keep the likes of Garnacho and Jamie Gittens waiting patiently for a proper opportunity to make their mark.
With a huge game against Liverpool to come at the weekend, the Portuguese international looks set to be one of the first names on the teamsheet for that clash.
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