Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Wed 22 April 2026 13:45, UK

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Pedro Neto failed to have any influence as Chelsea were battered 3-0 by Brighton at the American Express Stadium on Tuesday.

The winger is among several Blues bearing the brunt of a staggeringly bad run of form that has not even seen a goal scored across the last five Premier League matches.

Liam Rosenior’s position in charge is in serious doubt, but questions are rightfully being asked of the Chelsea squad.

Joao Pedro was unavailable against his former side on Tuesday, and the striker is among the very few players to walk away from this season with any credit at all.

Chelsea transfer chiefs face several key decisions this summer, with serious change needed throughout the squad.

Pedro Neto summed up in embarrassing moment

Football Insider exclusively revealed on Tuesday that Chelsea will have a tighter budget for transfers this summer, with a big sale perhaps necessary.

First on the list to go should be Neto, who delivered another poor performance on Tuesday night.

In 90 minutes on the pitch, the forward failed to create a chance or take a single shot, completing just one dribble and one cross.

The 26-year-old lost eight duels and took a measly two touches inside the opposition box, speaking to just how ineffective he was.

Chelsea’s attacking performance was generally woeful on the night – that was not just an issue with Neto.

But the Portugal international was particularly frustrating, and one moment in the second half summed up exactly why.

As Chelsea looked for an equaliser just after the break, Romeo Lavia found Neto in space with a superb long ball.

The forward was faced one-versus-one with a retreating 34-year-old Pascal Gross, and the microphones on the coverage picked up Rosenior clearly shouting: “Take him on, take him on!”

The Brighton man backed up all the way to his penalty box with Ferdi Kadioglu still not close, but before the defender had even got there, Neto was turning away and deciding against taking on his man.

Kadioglu’s arrival would see him backtrack completely, eventually passing back to Moises Caicedo.

Liam Rosenior rips into Chelsea players

Neto has reportedly attracted interest from Barcelona ahead of the summer transfer window, and Chelsea would be stupid not to accept a decent fee for him.

If Rosenior has anything to do with it, the forward and several of his teammates will be shipped out this summer.

“It’s very soon after the game and I’m an emotional person, but that was unacceptable – unacceptable,” he said after the game. “We lost 80% of duels and didn’t win a single header.

“Tonight was not [about] tactical. This was about desire, spirit, courage and I did not see enough of that tonight. It is accountability.

“I have defended the players at times when it was the correct thing, but I can’t defend that performance. It doesn’t represent this football club, it doesn’t represent anything I ask from the group and that has to change.”

Neto is under contract until 2031, but he should count himself lucky if he is not playing for a different club next season.