Neto to decide on participation in Palmeiras clash after Diogo Jota death

Enzo Maresca will let Pedro Neto decide whether he will feature in Chelsea's Club World Cup quarter-final with Palmeiras following the death of Diogo Jota. 

Jota and his brother Andre Silva were killed in a car crash shortly after midnight local time on Thursday in the Spanish province of Zamora.

Neto, who played one season with Jota in 2019-20 for Wolves, was also an international team-mate of the 28-year-old, recently featuring in Portugal's Nations League triumph. 

Chelsea's progression to the final eight has been helped by Neto's contributions, having scored in three consecutive matches for the first time in his senior club career.

Before scoring in each of his first three matches at this year's Club World Cup, Neto had scored only three goals in his previous 30 appearances in all competitions. 

But given the devastating news of Jota's passing, Maresca will leave it up to Neto whether he is able to play at Lincoln Financial Field. 

"He's very sad," Maresca said of Neto at his pre-match press conference. "More than sad, but we are also close to Pedro to support him in this moment.

"It's completely Pedro's decision (if he wants to play). I had a chat this morning with Pedro and we support him.

"Whatever decision he takes, it is the correct one, and we are going to support him in any case, so it doesn't matter if he is on the pitch. We will see how he is feeling tomorrow."

Earlier on Thursday, Al-Hilal boss Simone Inzaghi admitted Jota's passing had made it "difficult" for Portugal internationals Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves to prepare for the team's quarter-final meeting with Fluminense.

Inzaghi said: "These things should never happen. We're all aware of the tragedy. We have two Portugal players, Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo, who were friends to them."

While both players played alongside Jota for Portugal, Neves and Jota also played together for Wolves between 2017 and 2020, having both joined in the same transfer window.

 

Chelsea's meeting with Palmeiras could see new signing Joao Perdo, who completed his reported £60m transfer from Brighton earlier this week, make his debut for the Blues.

He is Chelsea's sixth signing of the summer window, with the Blues having already completed deals for Liam Delap, Estevao, Mamadou Sarr, Dario Essugo and Kendry Paez. 

They have also reached an agreement for Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens, though the England Under-21 international would not be able to feature at the Club World Cup. 

"Joao's situation is a bit strange, or different, because he was on holiday," Maresca said.

"He was working, but it's not the same when you work for yourself compared with when you work for the team. But we are really happy with Joao.

"The last two days he played with us - we will see if we need him. If we have a chance to give him some minutes, we will give him some minutes."

This will be the second meeting between Palmeiras and Chelsea, with the Blues winning the final of the 2021 Club World Cup as Kai Havertz struck to seal a 2-1 extra-time success. 

There have been seven matches between English and Brazilian teams at the tournament overall, with teams from England winning four times to three for those from South America. 

English sides had won three in a row entering the 2025 edition of the competition, before Flamengo recorded a 3-1 win over Chelsea in the group stage.

And though Palmeiras head coach Abel Ferreira acknowledged Chelsea were the favourites, he called for American fans to spur his team to victory on July 4.

"Yes, we are the underdog," Ferreira told reporters at Lincoln Financial Field.

"It can be a good opportunity for the local people to join up with us against the English. Because tomorrow - if I am not wrong - it is Independence Day, against? The English!

"So join us, come with us because we need your support."

Palmeiras' 1-0 extra-time win over Botafogo in the last 16 was their 10th clean sheet in their last 14 matches in all competitions, dating back to April 30.

However, they have allowed multiple goals in three of the four matches in which they failed to record a clean sheet in that time.

"We will give our best tomorrow and I hope that we are in a good moment, focused on our job, and try our best," Ferreira said.

"It's true that Chelsea have a big team with a lot of talent, young players. But we have a dream, and we will fight for that dream with open eyes, and give our maximum."