Reece James has singled out one Chelsea teammate he thinks has performed superbly well in recent games.
Even though Chelsea’s form has been a bit up and down in 2025, a few individuals in the Blues squad are standing up and impressing.
Reece James, 25, has played in seven of the previous eight matches across all competitions as he continues his return from injury. Incidentally, he was an unused substitute in last week’s Premier League victory at home to Southampton.
James played in midfield against Aston Villa in February as certain players continue to plug holes in the XI across the pitch. The right-back will hopefully get back to his very best form soon enough in his favoured position.
Reece James applauds Pedro Neto’s recent form for Chelsea
Chelsea skipper James has given a special mention to Pedro Neto for his contribution in the last couple of games.
The 24-year-old attacker, who’s a winger by trade, has done a superb job covering in the striker position due to a lack of options.
“Everyone wants the best for the team and the club, so we will all do what we need to do. Pedro [Neto], for example, isn’t playing in his position at the moment but he’s doing an amazing job to help the team and that’s the mindset,” James said via Chelsea’s official website.
Neto admits he enjoys playing at centre-forward and it’s easy to see why based on his previous performances.
| Match | Goals | Assists | Match rating |
| Chelsea 4-0 Southampton | 1 | 1 | 8.3 |
| Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea | 0 | 1 | 7.5 |
It might not be a long-term solution for Neto to lead the line for the Blues, but he’s definitely injected some extra movement and intent to the forward line. We think it’s probably the best he’s performed during his debut season at Stamford Bridge as well.
The Portugal international has five goals and seven assists in 31 Chelsea appearances across all competitions this campaign, so his aim should be to reach double digits for both before it ends.
Jason Cundy is loving Neto’s impact for Chelsea in the No 9 position, adding it’s a much better solution than Christopher Nkunku down the middle.
Pedro Neto needs to get his skates on with Esevao Willian’s arrival imminent
The Chelsea fanbase is growing more and more excited about the imminent arrival of Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian, 17, from Palmeiras in the summer.
The teenage star has been dazzling on the right wing for Palmeiras for over a year now, so we’re eager to see whether he can make the step up in the Premier League. Denilson has complete faith in Estevao that he’ll settle quickly into English football.
For Chelsea’s current wingers, they should be on red alert that the competition to start could ramp up even higher next season.
In general, Neto has played within himself so far since joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer. It feels like a gigantic few months for the left-footed forward to cement his spot in the team’s best starting XI before Estevao is added to the squad.
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