Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has claimed Chelsea forward Pedro Neto will never reach the level of club legend Eden Hazard, despite showing flashes of brilliance.
Late Chelsea equaliser salvages point at Etihad
The comments came after a dramatic 1-1 Premier League draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, January 4, 2026. Manchester City looked set for victory after a first-half goal from Tijjani Reijnders, but a stoppage-time strike from Enzo Fernandez rescued a point for a managerless Chelsea.
The Blues were reeling from the departure of manager Enzo Maresca just three days prior, making the result under interim boss Calum McFarlane a significant morale boost. Neville described it as a "good moment" and a "good end to the week" for the west London club.
Neville's 'frustrating' Neto verdict
However, Neville's post-match analysis on his Sky Sports podcast was heavily focused on the performance of £54 million winger Pedro Neto. While acknowledging the Portuguese player's talent, the former Manchester United defender expressed significant frustration.
"He bloody frustrated me like you won't believe," Neville stated. "He's a smidgen away from being an Eden Hazard but he's never going to be an Eden Hazard because he hasn't got that killer instinct."
Neville elaborated by praising the unique qualities of the former Chelsea star, saying: "Hazard had that beautiful glide about him but he was also a killer and you've got to be a killer in those situations and Neto isn't that."
The pundit concluded that Manchester City only had themselves to blame for not securing the win, a result that leaves them six points behind in the title race. "Man City got what they deserved in the end for not killing the game off," he added.
Interim boss McFarlane hails Chelsea spirit
Chelsea's stand-in manager, Calum McFarlane, praised his team's resilience after the match. "We showed a lot of character and resilience," he said. "The lads took the information on board at half time. We changed the shape. We changed the press. It allowed us to get a good foothold in the game. We deserved a minimum of one point."
On his own temporary position, McFarlane confirmed: "I lead the team until I am told otherwise. It's an honour. There will be a new manager in soon."
Chelsea's next fixture is a Premier League clash against west London rivals Fulham on Wednesday night.
