Pedro Neto’s switch to right wing-back exposes a clear limitation, pundit says

Chelsea used Pedro Neto as a right wing-back in a recent match, a choice that a London is Blue podcast presenter, Nick Verlaney, described as problematic. Verlaney argued Neto's natural left foot and his tendencies with the ball make the right-sided role a tactical mismatch. The criticism came amid a run where Chelsea had gone three games without a win and were conceding "soft goals."

Why the position creates a technical problem

The podcast critique in plain terms

The critique included defensive failings. Verlaney noted Neto was ''terrible defensively'' in the game discussed and was ''caught not tracking back a couple of times.'' Those breakdowns matter because Chelsea's recent run includes conceding several soft goals, and such lapses contribute directly to poor results.

How this fits into Chelsea's bigger picture

Chelsea. The club's xG places them in the bottom quarter of the league and they had conceded more goals than any other team at that stage. Manager Xabi Alonso publicly criticised team mentality following a recent defeat, and multiple pundits and former players have raised concerns about recruitment and midfield balance. Tactical choices about where to place players like Neto are being scrutinised more because the team is underperforming collectively.

• Neto's next starts: Will the coaching staff persist with him on the right wing-back or shift him to the left where his stronger foot suits crosses and outside passes?
• Defensive tracking: If Neto's defensive work rate improves, some tactical limitations might be more tolerable. Continued lapses would strengthen the argument for a positional change.
• How Alonso adjusts: With broader issues in xG and goals conceded, Alonso may tweak formations or personnel to reduce exposure on the flanks.

Verlaney's criticism is technical and practical: a left-footed player in a right wing-back role sacrifices key passing and crossing angles and can become predictable. Combined with defensive mistakes and Chelsea's wider defensive record, that mismatch has become a visible problem in recent matches.