Enzo Maresca cautions Chelsea player about falling short of the expected goal tally.

Enzo Maresca has applauded Pedro Neto’s contributions but made it clear that the Chelsea winger needs to improve his goal tally, stressing a target of 10 Premier League goals for wide players.

 

Chelsea are set to face Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in a must-win match to stay competitive in the top-five battle for a Champions League spot. Currently sixth in the league, the Blues are just four points behind third-place Manchester City.

 

Last weekend, Maresca’s side appeared to be dropping key points against Fulham until Tyrique George scored a late equaliser and Pedro Neto followed up with a dramatic injury-time winner to seal a 2-1 comeback.

 

Since Neto’s £51 million switch from Wolves last summer, he has impressed in general play but has only netted four league goals—well below Maresca’s expectations.

 

“Pedro has been important for us, especially when Nico Jackson was unavailable,” Maresca noted. “But I expect our wingers to contribute more goals—about 10 each by the season’s end, given the chances they get in matches.”

 

Noni Madueke has come closest to hitting that benchmark with seven league goals, though he’s only found the net twice since Christmas. Neto isn’t alone in struggling to score, with players like Jadon Sancho and Mykhailo Mudryk also underperforming in front of goal.

 

While Neto might not start against Everton, Maresca admitted that the winger hasn’t been used in his ideal position. “He’s more effective on the right, but at times we’ve had to play him on the left. Still, he’s adapting well.”

 

Maresca praised the competition among wide players, including Madueke and Tyrique George, stating that all three are pushing each other through consistent performances in training.