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| Pedro Neto’s Club World Cup Status Uncertain After Diogo Jota’s Tragic Death Shakes Chelsea Camp. |
Chelsea’s upcoming FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final clash against Palmeiras is clouded by uncertainty as winger Pedro Neto grieves the tragic death of fellow Portuguese international Diogo Jota.
Jota and his brother, André Silva, lost their lives in a car accident in the early hours of Thursday morning in Zamora, Spain. The shocking news has deeply impacted several players, especially Neto, who shared the pitch with Jota during their time at Wolves in the 2019–2020 season and with the Portuguese national team more recently.
Maresca Gives Neto Full Control Over Palmeiras Game Decision
Head coach Enzo Maresca has stated that Neto will be given complete freedom to decide whether he wants to play in the upcoming match at Lincoln Financial Field.
“He’s more than sad. He’s devastated,” Maresca said during a press conference. “We’ve talked, and we’re standing by him. Whether he plays or not is entirely his choice. Whatever he decides, we’ll support him without question.”
Neto has been one of Chelsea’s standout players during the tournament so far, scoring in three straight matches—his best goal-scoring streak in senior club football. Prior to this Club World Cup, the winger had scored just three goals in his last 30 appearances across all competitions.
Portuguese Stars Across the Competition Affected
Pedro Neto isn’t the only player emotionally affected by the loss. Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi also acknowledged the emotional toll on João Cancelo and Rúben Neves, who were both teammates of Jota with Portugal.
“These things should never happen,” Inzaghi said. “Both Cancelo and Neves were close to Jota. It’s a difficult time for them.”
Neves and Jota also played together at Wolves between 2017 and 2020, making the tragedy even more personal for several players involved in this tournament.
João Pedro Could Make Chelsea Debut Against Palmeiras
Chelsea may also debut new £60 million signing João Pedro, who joined the club from Brighton earlier this week. The 22-year-old forward is one of six summer signings, along with Liam Delap, Estevao, Mamadou Sarr, Dario Essugo, and Kendry Paez.
Maresca hinted that Pedro could feature, saying, “He’s been working individually during his vacation, but it’s different from training with the team. Still, we’ll see if we can give him some minutes.”
Chelsea have also secured Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, but the England U21 player is not eligible to play in this competition.
Chelsea vs Palmeiras: A Rematch with History and Stakes
This is the second time Chelsea and Palmeiras will face off in the Club World Cup. The first meeting was in the 2021 final, which Chelsea won 2-1 in extra time thanks to a goal from Kai Havertz.
Historically, English clubs have had the upper hand over Brazilian teams in this tournament, winning four of the seven meetings so far. However, that dominance was interrupted earlier this year when Flamengo handed Chelsea a 3-1 defeat in the group stage.
Palmeiras Coach Asks American Fans to Back the Underdogs
Palmeiras head coach Abel Ferreira is embracing his team’s underdog status—but he’s also hoping for a unique home-field advantage in Philadelphia on Independence Day.
“Yes, Chelsea are the favorites,” Ferreira admitted. “But tomorrow is July 4—America’s Independence Day… from the English. So maybe the local fans can support us just this once.”
Palmeiras come into this game after a hard-fought 1-0 extra-time win over Botafogo in the Round of 16. The Brazilian champions have kept 10 clean sheets in their last 14 matches, though they’ve struggled defensively when they do concede, allowing multiple goals in three of those four games.
“We’ll give everything we have. Chelsea are young, fast, and talented, but we have our dream too,” said Ferreira. “We’ll keep our eyes wide open and fight for it.”
As Chelsea prepare for a high-stakes encounter against Palmeiras, emotions run deep across the squad. All eyes will be on Pedro Neto, whose personal grief could shape the course of this crucial match. Whether he steps onto the field or not, his presence will undoubtedly be felt.
