Chelsea forward Pedro Neto will decide whether to play in the Club World Cup quarterfinal against Palmeiras, following the death of his close friend and Portugal teammate Diogo Jota. Jota, 28, died in a car crash in northern Spain, along with his brother André Silva.
Neto did not attend Chelsea’s training session on Thursday after being informed of Jota’s tragic demise. Coach Enzo Maresca assured reporters that Neto is under no pressure to play against Palmeiras and will make his own decision.
“We are close to Pedro and want to support him in this difficult time,” Maresca said. “Any decision he takes is the right one, and we’ll be with him either way.”
Defender Marc Cucurella also expressed sympathy for Neto, saying that the team has come together to offer their support. He encouraged Neto to focus on playing well if he decides to participate, adding that football is secondary to showing respect and love for Jota’s family during this challenging time.
Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/45663506/maresca-pedro-neto-call-chelsea-club-world-cup-diogo-jota-death