Pedro Neto sends message after ‘Chelsea retrospective ban’, Madueke & Fofana respond
Pedro Neto addressed Chelsea fans after his standout performance against Southampton, despite controversy surrounding an incident with Armel Bella-Kotchap.
Chelsea secured a dominant 4-0 victory over bottom-placed Southampton at Stamford Bridge on 25 February, marking their first win in four games.
Enzo Maresca faced criticism for selecting Christopher Nkunku in the starting lineup, but the Frenchman silenced doubts by opening the scoring inside 24 minutes. Neto then doubled the advantage with his third league goal of the season, capping off an impressive individual display.
Second-half goals from Marc Cucurella and Levi Colwill sealed the emphatic win, sending the side into fourth place as they strengthened their push for Champions League qualification.
However, controversy arose when former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett exclusively told Football Insider that Neto should be banned for simulation, claiming he dived too easily in a challenge with Bella-Kotchap.
Despite the incident, Neto was brilliant for Chelsea on the night. The winger delivered a strong performance and later sent a message to fans, celebrating the victory and his contribution to the team’s success.
| Match stats vs Southampton | Pedro Neto |
| Minutes | 68′ |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Expected assists (xA) | 0.27 |
| Key passes | 1 |
Wesley Fofana and Noni Madueke react to Pedro Neto’s message
The Portugal international took to Instagram after the game, posting pictures of his various celebrations and captioning the post: “Important win, thank you for the support.”
Chelsea teammates Noni Madueke and Wesley Fofana were among those who reacted to his post. Madueke commented, “Bad Boy!” while Fofana jokingly added, “You need to find a better celebration, bro.”
The winger has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter under Maresca, making just 14 league starts in 24 Premier League appearances this season. Across all competitions, he has registered five goals and seven assists in 1,775 minutes of action.
Despite his ability, Neto has faced criticism from Chelsea fans for inconsistent performances, with many expecting more from him in terms of goal contributions.
Enzo Maresca faces Chelsea sack threat
While Neto impressed against Southampton, Maresca will be hoping the winger can build on his performance and add to his goal tally in the coming weeks.
Maresca has been under increasing pressure due to the team’s inconsistent form, with only two Premier League wins in 10 games before their victory over Southampton.
The dominant win should help restore some confidence, but the side must capitalise on this result if they are to maintain their push for a European spot.
With no fixture this weekend—having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton—they will have a full week to prepare for their crucial Europa Conference League Round of 16 tie against Copenhagen on 6 March.