National media in awe of Pedro Neto after ‘fine display’ as Chelsea beat Southampton 4-0 | OneFootball

Chelsea beat Southampton 4-0 to reclaim fourth place on the Premier League table, at least for now. The Blues had recorded only two wins in their previous ten league games and needed a result against the Saints at Stamford Bridge.

Christopher Nkunku gave Chelsea the lead and then turned provider for Pedro Neto to double it. Neto then delivered a gorgeous cross for Levi Colwill to head home his first goal in nearly two years.

Chelsea went into the half-time break with a 3-0 lead, and Marc Cucurella added the gloss to proceedings with 12 minutes to go.

After initially struggling for long stretches with striking pair Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu injured and Nkunku looking like a fish out of water in the centre-forward position, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca might have found a new solution to his woes.

Maresca used Neto as a striker when Chelsea lost to Aston Villa. The Portuguese winger had a great game in his new position. He started in the centre-forward position again against Southampton and delivered a goal and an assist after weeks of unproductivity parked out wide.

Neto was praised as the ‘star man’ of the win over Southampton, with the Evening Standard rating him 8/10 and saying, “Started centrally again and delivered a fine display, running channels, holding the ball up and then taking his goal superbly. Nice free-kick delivery for Colwill header, too.”

Unlike Nkunku, Neto is willing to run the channels and his hold-up play, even against much bigger centre-backs, has been impeccable. There is every chance he will start in that role against Leicester City and Copenhagen.

Guiu should be back after the international break in March to provide a massive boost for Chelsea. Jackson is expected back sometime in April. The Blues hope to use the coming games to build momentum before the break.