Pedro Neto may miss Chelsea’s Club World Cup quarter-final after friend Jota’s death | Chelsea

Enzo Maresca said he Pergera Pedro Neto decide if he is ready to face Palmeiras after Chelsea excused the winger of training after the death of his friend and international teammate Diogo Jota.

Neto played with Jota at Wolverhampton Wanderers and won the League of Nations alongside the Liverpool striker and Portugal last month.

The atmosphere was dark at the Chelsea training camp while they were preparing to face Palmeiras in the quarter -final of the Club World Cup on Friday. Neto was allowed to miss the session and Maresca did not know if Neto will be in the right frame of mind to play.

“It’s a very sad day,” said Maresca. “I find it hard to find words, it’s very difficult. You feel a little helpless in this situation. I can only say all my love to [Jota’s] family. It is a great tragedy for them. In terms of Pedro, he is very sad. Probably more than sad. We are close to Pedro to support him.

“Because I haven’t seen him in training earlier. This is completely Pedro’s decision [to play]. I chatted this morning with Pedro. We support it. Any decision he makes is the right one. »»

Marc Cucurella supported Neto, who scored three goals during the tournament, to get up occasionally if he plays.

“The manager and he must decide, but it is important that Pedro feels good,” said Chelsea’s left back. “Football is secondary but it’s a long day tomorrow and everything they decide will be good. But for the moment, he is a player in good shape and I think Pedro can help us in this game.”

Chelsea rallied around Neto. “In the morning, he was sad and it was not his best time,” said Cucurella. “But we tried to stay together and in the afternoon, he was a little better and I told him that if he was going to play, he will mark because it is fate. I hope we can show his love and all the good friends that we are and dedicate the goal to him.”

Chelsea also has selection problems in the midfield. Moisés Caicedo serves a ban on a match and Maresca revealed that Romeo Lavia, who was not seen in training this week, is in doubt with a muscle problem.

“We are not sure he can be in good shape,” said Maresca. “We will try tomorrow. He had small problems at the end of the last match against Benfica. These are just muscle problems and tomorrow we will see if it is in good shape. Me is also suspended, so we have to find solutions. ”

Chelsea accepted costs of 48.5 million pounds sterling and more the additional modules for the Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens and added Joao Pedro to their team after having signed the Brighton striker in an agreement of a value of up to 60 million pounds Sterling. It remains to be seen if João Pedro is ready to appear against Palmeiras.

“The situation of João Pedro is a bit strange because he was on vacation,” said Maresca. “Even if he worked, it’s not the same when you work alone rather than with the team. We are very satisfied with Joao in the two days he worked with us. We will see if we need him tomorrow.”

The other key sub -intrigue of the tie is Willian Estévão, the 18-year-old Palmeiras winger, taking his future employers. The Brazilian international was the subject of enormous attention since he joined Chelsea after the Club World Cup.

“Everyone knew it could happen during negotiations,” said Abel Ferreira, Palmeiras responsible. “Everyone knew he could play. So he will do what he will do. I have nothing to say. He must do his job. He will not play alone. No one plays alone in my team. He will do what he will always do. As long as he plays with us, he has this commitment with us and once he has finished his commitments with Palmeiras, he is free to start with his new club.

“He knows what he should do for tomorrow. I hope he will do the best for the owners of Chelsea. It will be an important opportunity for him to show how good he is. We can expect his best. Perhaps mark a goal to give goodbye for our fans, because we have helped him.

Ferreira, who is without Gustavo Gómez and Murilo in defense, jokes the Philadelphians to exploit their patriotism by coming to the game to support his team on July 4.

“We are the outsiders,” said the Portuguese. “This can be an opportunity for local populations to join us against the English. It can be a good time. Tomorrow it will be independence, against the English. Join us! Come with us! We need your support. “