New Victor Moses? How Alonso has transformed Neto

Just as they did 10 years ago, Chelsea are thriving after moving a winger into a wing-back role, with Pedro Neto the latest player to benefit.

A decade ago, it was Victor Moses who made the switch, adapting to Antonio Conte's then-innovative system and helping Chelsea to a 13-match winning run en route to the Premier League title in 2017.

Neto scored twice from wing-back in Chelsea's 2-0 win at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.

However, the situation could have unfolded very differently for the 26-year-old.

Chelsea did not regard the Portuguese as untouchable during the summer, although they had set a lofty asking price of about £100m.

They knew Neto was among the players frustrated at the end of last season after Enzo Maresca, with whom he had a close relationship, left the club on New Year's Day. His managerial successor, Liam Rosenior, lasted less than four months in charge as Chelsea finished 10th.

At the end of last season and throughout the summer, players including Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Reece James and Moises Caicedo signed new contracts after buying into Chelsea's revised vision of adding experience alongside the talent already assembled.

The appointment of Xabi Alonso also appeared to win players over, although there were questions about whether Neto relished the prospect of playing at wing-back, and uncertainty over his future persisted until the transfer window closed.

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